An influx of waste-to-energy projects in South Africa
Due to various challenges experienced by the government regarding waste, incinerators have been pitched as a solution, when in fact they are a false solution. Waste companies, incl...
GLOBAL ALLIANCE OF
WASTE PICKERS
WASTE PICKERS
The Global Alliance of Waste Pickers is a networking process supported by WIEGO, among thousands of waste picker organizations with groups in more than 28 countries covering mainly Latin America, Asia and Africa.
Supported by
Africa
Towards a solid organization of waste pickers in Sierra Leone
Aaron A Boima is an informal trader in Freetown, and the Secretary General of the Sierra Leone Traders Union (SLeTU). He is also the Co-ordinator of eight informal economy workers...
Pietermaritzburg drops the ball on sustainable jobs initiative
Fifteen waste recyclers brought a municipal waste management meeting to an hour-long standstill last Thursday at the Harry Gwala Stadium. Open to everyone residing within the uMgun...
An interview with Thulisiwe Khumalo, woman waste picker and leader
Thulisiwe started working on a dumpsite five years ago for Wetland Recycling a company owned by a white man. However, in 2013 after three years of being subjected to irregular wage...
Women waste pickers discuss strategies for recognition at a Cape Town workshop
On 26-27 May 2015, 30 women waste pickers gathered at Community House in Salt River Cape Town. They gathered at a workshop facilitated by WIEGO in partnership with the Internationa...
A study about waste pickers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Abstract Waste recycling in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania is not spearheaded by any government, private or civil society initiative but rather by the efforts of an informal army of self-...
Struggling for unity: women waste pickers in South Africa
Many men, women and children from working class communities make a living through waste-picking by collecting, sorting, recycling, and selling materials that someone else has throw...
Recycling facility construction halted by intergovernmental disputes
After waiting for three years for the construction of a materials recycling facility (MRF) at the New England Road landfill site in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal approximately fi...
Book launch of Good Riddance, about the waste pickers of Johannesburg
They’re a familiar sight in Johannesburg—a procession of people, usually men, balaclavas drawn over faces against the cold, hauling mountains of recyclable stuff on homemade tr...
South African waste pickers call on the government to build recycling facility
Approximately 500 waste recyclers or pickers will take to the streets of Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, this week Thursday, December 11th, 2014, after three years of waiting for t...
Zero waste approach is a must in South Africa
Un-recycled waste is a common sight and a sign of an inefficient governance and production system, which adds to the global burden of climate change. A zero waste approach [1] to t...
Promote climate jobs and deny proposed waste-to-energy incinerator in Kempton Park, South Africa
Dear friends Say what?! Yes, you read it correctly. Hundreds of waste reclaimers and small recyclers in South Africa stand to lose their climate-friendly jobs and be forced to retu...
Four pilot projects in the works: an update from the South African Waste Pickers’ Association
SAWPA has been in negotiations with government at all levels about their recognition, particularly receiving recognition in some municipal areas that has since resulted in new projects on the ground. There are various projects in which SAWPA members are involved.
South African waste pickers registering as tire collectors
The South African Waste Pickers’ Association (SAWPA) are in the process of registering with REDISA as tyre collectors and/or transporters. Waste pickers are already in the business of recycling and this plan is just adding one more waste stream to collect.
Msunduzi municipality puts job creation project on back-burner
Instead of supporting the local social economy, Msunduzi Municipality has signed an agreement with Wildlands Conservation Trust to take all recyclable waste from Pietermaritzburg.
South African waste pickers call on their government to stop incineration projects
SAWPA came together in November to object to the proposal by EnviroServ to construct a waste incineration facility at the Chloorkop waste site, calling on the government to deny EnviroServ permission to build a waste incinerator facility at Chloorkop.
Nov. 8 march against incineration: Waste incineration is wasting jobs in South Africa!
Despite South Africa’s waste management legislation stipulating that incineration be the last resort in waste disposal, approximately 300 waste pickers on the Chloorkop landfill in Kempton Park are set to lose their jobs as a result of Enviroserve’s proposed waste-to-energy incinerator.
Update from Nigeria: “An irreversible organizing process has been set in motion”
A report from the WIEGO/FIWON organizing project in Nigeria, which is in its final phase, says progress is being made in the seven target cities of the project. Meetings among waste pickers became regular with some centers holding meetings once or twice a month.
WIEGO and Waste Pickers Speak at Joburg Waste Summit
On May 15 and 16, 2013 over 400 people attended the Joburg Waste Summit, hosted by the Johannesburg Council and its waste management company Pikitup. The Council and Pikitup urgently need to find ways to minimize waste going to landfill, and the Summit was called to explore how to do this. WIEGO and SAWPA argued that landfill reclaimers need to be included in all discussions and new recycling initiatives.
South African Waste Pickers Association National Meeting
From June 19th to the 21st, the South African Waste Pickers Association (SAWPA) held its national meeting in Johannesburg. 80 waste pickers who are serving as landfill coordinators attended, from all over the country. There were seven waste picker leaders from different provinces. Facilitators from three organizations were there to support the meeting. “There has been progress since the mid-2000s,” said Musa Chamane, a waste campaign manager with GroundWork, an organization that works closely with SAWPA. “Conditions have been slowly changing for the better.”
