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waste pickerslatest news & developments
Informal waste pickers are responsible for processing more than 80% of South Africa’s recycled materials, which is an extraordinary contribution to the economy and environment. Photo: Mark Lewis
ADDIS ABABA

National emergency: The urban models turning waste into opportunity

An innovative project for informal waste pickers in Cape Town demonstrates how empowerment and a circular economy can make a difference

  • Warren Hewitt
4 min read
Recycle rather than expand or build more landfills.
AFRIFORUM LANDFILL AUDIT

South Africa’s landfills reaching capacity, not properly managed

The solution is not to expand or build more landfills but rather to focus on recycling, say waste management experts

  • Aarti Bhana
6 min read
MEC Mbali Hlophe wants every household in the province to embrace the idea of food security.
AGRICULTURE

Creating food security through training, technology and the establishment of Buy-Back Centres for recycling waste

Initiatives by the Gauteng Department of Social Development, Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment

  • Thabo Mohlala
10 min read
A Unimog sponsored by Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa for the Clean Surf Project, an NGO dedicated to cleaning up the country’s shores.
AND INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEAN UP DAY

CCBSA, local communities join forces to help create a World Without Waste

The goal is for every package to have more than one life

  • CCBSA
7 min read
INFORMAL RECYCLERS

Informal waste collection shouldn’t let plastic polluters off the hook

The image of plastic recycling as the solution to plastic pollution is perpetuated by statistics that highlight successes, which are communicated in tonnes and percentages that…

  • Teresa Sandra Perez
5 min read
The “hard-fought” negotiations to develop a landmark United Nations treaty to end plastic pollution closed on Friday without agreement and have been extended again
BREAK FREE FROM PLASTIC

South Africa and other countries ignore waste reduction in climate plan

‘If plastic were a country, it would already be the fifth-largest emitter in the world’

  • Sheree Bega
7 min read
Informal waste pickers are responsible for processing more than 80% of South Africa’s recycled materials, which is an extraordinary contribution to the economy and environment. Photo: Mark Lewis
AFRICAN RECLAIMERS ORGANISATION

Waste pickers should be seen as essential workers

Come rain or sun, waste pickers push their trolleys full of recycled material. But despite providing an environmental service they are not treated as the public-service workers…

  • Musawenkosi Cabe
8 min read
Circular green economy: Kekeletso Tsiloane (right) and Kedibone Tsiloane (left) at their factory where bricks are made using plastic, much of it collected from waste pickers. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Sisters pave the way with ecobricks

The durable bricks are made from 30% recycled plastic, some of which they collect from a network of 50 waste pickers

  • Sheree Bega
5 min read