Deputy Minister supports waste initiatives in Kwa-Zulu Natal
Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs, Ms Barbara Thomson handed over 15 trolleys to the South African Waste Pickers Association in Mooiriver and a Kia bakkie to Songimvelo Recyclers in Msunduzi, KwaZulu-Natal.
Speaking at both the events, Deputy Minister Thomson highlighted the importance of supporting waste management initiatives as they contribute to job creation and improving the quality of life for all.
“Recycling has enormous economic potential. Conservative estimates put the financial value of the formal South African waste sector at R15 billion. It is time that we wake up to this economic potential of recycling,” she said.
Referring to the job creation opportunities in the sector, the deputy minister called on local businesses and entrepreneurs to explore the economic opportunities provided through waste recycling. “Let us involve our youth and women in such interventions as they are most affected by unemployment and poverty.”
Songimvelo Recyclers employ vagrants and unemployed youth to collect recyclable material for recycling within the city.
“They have played a role in cleaning the streets of Msunduzi by collecting recyclable material and disposing of it at landfill sites,” said Msunduzi Mayor Themba Njilo.
Councillor Njilo said the clean-up initiative by Songimvelo Recyclers and tools donated by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) would help transform the city.
“This is a dream come true for the city to take on a clean-up initiative. We’ve already started the cleaning process beginning at the Ematsheni area and clearing up the streets.”
The DEA, in partnership with the Department of Public Service and Administration through its Tirelo Bosha Programme, provided the means to purchase a vehicle for Songimvelo Recyclers.
The vehicle is fitted with a customised trailer to increase the capacity to transport recyclable materials, and Songimvelo Recyclers founder Mr Hugo Ngcobo said the donation came in handy as it will assist them with their recycling business.
His co-founder, Mr Ivan Khumalo, said lack of employment influenced their decision to start the company to ensure they turn waste into money.
The South African Waste Pickers Association, Groundwork, and Petco are among the organisations that have partnered with the DEA to support emerging waste pickers.
Mr Sibusiso Dladla, a founder of Mooiriver recycling corporative said the trolleys handed over to waste pickers will make their work easy.
“We are very thrilled by receiving these trolleys, and we hope that others who are doing the same work will be encouraged from what we have achieved and strive to do more.”
The waste pickers in Mooiriver have in the past converted retail store trolleys into convenient modes of transport to move the collected waste material to buy-back centres with ease.