1. Topic: Role of waste pickers in waste management and their contribution towards recycling ‘’A case study of Johannesburg metro’’ Living on what others throw away: Household waste

2. Waste characterization Waste Generators Households units, Businesses Institutions Industries

3. Snapshot on Waste Stream Recycling and Garden site Zondi depot Malboro Depot Randburg Depot Falcon Depot Migson Manor Depot The diversion of waste in all of this sites relies on waste pickers and their choice in extracting certain recyclables

4. Landfill and Impacts Reduction rate Food Paper Plastics Glass This materials are the main focus for waste pickers when attending to household bins

5. Landfill and waste pickers Waste pickers on landfill sites are so familiar with waste characterisation to an extent that they notice a van,truck with useful materials or not. And divert their focus on materials they use other than the useless ones. Waste pickers have vast knowledge on how to apply traditional cost effective method in treating and collecting recyclables from waste.

6. Introduction Living on what others throw away: street waste It has been observed that waste pickers within the Johannesburg metro cover a great area to go fetch their weekly stock to deliver recyclable buy back centre’s and it with great note that the main focus of collection is around PET as a primary recyclable with cans and metals second and at lowest collection being boxes and glass. This is caused by the price of buy back of this recyclables. There is a need to increase and help support even educate how to deal with all types of waste. The waste hierarchy outlines the support of Reduce, Reuse and Recycling. At the palm of separation at source waste pickers are found to be the ones having a great impact of withdrawing all recyclable materials. In household waste it is now normal to find a waste picker removing recyclable prior the waste truck comes to pick up waste for disposal. What will be the future of waste pickers in South Africa For many individuals and families waste picking has become a way of survival. The activities of the waste pickers fall within the informal economy. In spite of the fact that waste pickers are a common sight, scant attention is paid to them. With high levels of unemployment as a permanent feature in the urban areas of many developing countries. Waste pickers should be supported not find them fighting for the right to be on landfill sites or our household bins just to help reduce the volumes of waste directed for disposal to landfills. A high volume reduction in landfills is eminent as more and more big suppliers of products are encouraging recycling of their products as environmental compliance part. This guys whether we like it or not they are taking an initiative to help the government achieve better waste management system without over flooding of waste in communities. This entails independent individuals who make a living reclaiming recyclable waste from the waste stream, predominantly from landfill sites and selling it on to the recycling companies or buy back centre’s. Without prior education or qualification in waste management a high number of South Africans currently earn a living in this way. Waste picking offers individuals a means to make a living and also contribute to skills development with routine waste collection and encourages development of new strategies towards waste management.

7. Review Living on what others throw away: street waste It is vital to look at the scenarios and extend it to community participation and the drive to establish a waste network that operates in great tolerance with waste pickers. Communities in townships have great tolerance over waste pickers by not bothering them when they operating their duties. It is also vital to understand that not bothering the waste pickers means encouraging them to operate. The anticipated approach has to have a far more relevant approach as to the type of waste and type of recyclables. Aiming at separation at source which can lead to zero to waste achievement. What will be the future of waste pickers in South Africa Future of waste pickers looks set in terms of waste gathering value in an informal economy. The middle man approach has proven to degrade the economy and also influenced the circulation of waste in a constant manner. However it is also a working system that if it was to be removed all together it may strip the economy and system of waste pickers. The new waste Act gives little room to waste pickers to apply their free fall role to reducing waste and when formulating such waste legislations a waste consultative forum should be held to establish the traditional methods appllied to waste streams in townships and landfill sites.

8. Waste pickers in JHB Case studies Tebogo and Thabiso move around Soweto covering zone6,7,8,9 and 10 and take this separated recyclables mostly PET to Cleveland that’s 20 km away from point of collection. Its now a routine as every Monday they attend to that issue. This guys all come from Lesotho and all use self made trolleys to move the bulk bag with recyclables. Phineas in Soweto says he has been doing glass collection for the past six years and each time he fills a bag and sell to a vendor in town. All cad board he takes them to dube near phefeni. Area covered shows small distance compared to counterparts. According to Buti Mofokeng who is a waste picker around the Johannesburg Metro waste picking is one of the treasures he enjoys on a daily basis. He said “I go around collect even when people think I am a hobo but at the end of the week I have an income that I can send home in Lesotho” He moves around park wood, Park Hurst suburbs and by now some even go to an extent of saving some PET for him at garages until he comes to avoid the waste truck pick ups. A self made trolley is used to collect recyclables. Just imagine the kind of impact of waste picking in some families, if Buti is sick the family cannot have that income at the end of the month. This is just one of the many heroic stories associated with waste picking that to be taken into account by summit going forth.

9. Recycling An assessment of waste picker’s role in waste management and recycling Recycling Recycling has been described as a way of reducing pollutants to the environment and at the same time avoid that aspect of new pollutes entering the circulation. Recycling involves processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of new raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from land filling) by reducing the need for conventional waste disposal and lower green house gas emissions as compared to virgin production Recycling is a key component of modern waste management and is the third component of the ‘’Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’’ waste hierarchy.

10. Legislative requirements Legislation National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998, section 14(1) to provide operative, environmental governance by establishing principles for decision-making on matters affecting the environment, institutions that will promote co-operative governance and procedures for co-ordinating environmental functions exercised by organs of state; and provide for matters connected therewith. National Environmental Management Waste Act 59 of 2008 Environmental Conservation Act, Act 73 of 1989, Regulation.149 to provide for the effective protection and controlled utilization of the environment and for matters incidental thereto. Section 24(4)(a) National Water Act, Act 36 of 998, Section 123(1) of the National Water Act. To provide for fundamental reform of the law relating to water resources; to repeal certain laws; and to provide for matters connected therewith.

11. Factors Social costs Occupational hazards Child labor Litter Public nuisance Social and economic benefits/ ecological benefits Job creation Public health and sanitation Crime reduction Municipal savings Reducing pollution and mitigating climate change (elaborate more) Impacts Risks of injury Stigma, harassment and violence Health risks

12. Conclusion Zero to waste is a long-term goal that can be achieved with an functional and well established waste network that maintains and operate in a sequential manner. Waste pickers are a key factor in achieving deliverable goals in reducing waste in the zero to waste aimed strategy. The established economy has to extend the support to reduce waste collection costing. Therefore it is with great concern that if all the support weaknesses are not addressed instead of having an established waste stream with zero waste aimed at coming years to achieve a growing economy instead of constant economy in waste management. Lets go out and implement a strategy that encourages waste management not waste covering.