They’re only 300 signatures away of the 3,000 goal! Sign the African Reclaimers Organisation’s petition that calls on the municipality to stop the R50 levy and create a reclaimer-based recycling system through consultation with reclaimers. https://t.co/mKvdyoTdze
— Global Alliance of Waste Pickers ♻️ (@globalrec_org) May 5, 2021
The Global Alliance of Wastepickers (GLOBALREC) stands with all recyclers around the world and celebrates the importance of this victory.
Why is this important?
Starting from 1 July, residents living in houses worth more than R350 000 could potentially pay a R50 “recycling fee” if the City of Johannesburg’s proposed waste management tariff is approved.
The City said that the R50 additional levy will go to Pikitup to extend a separation at source (S@S) programme which has already been piloted in a few suburbs in Johannesburg.
Not only does this recycling fee raise more questions and concerns for residents, but it is also a serious threat to the livelihood of reclaimers who depend on the collection of recyclables for their daily living. The extension of this project will decrease reclaimers’ access to bins which will significantly decrease their income.
Reclaimers collect between 80 – 90% of used packaging collected for recycling, saving municipalities millions of rands per year. The contribution of reclaimers cannot be overlooked or underestimated.
You can read the full statement released by the African Reclaimers Organization below:
NO RECYCLING WITHOUT RECLAIMERS!
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