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.
Unlike other UN Climate Conferences there have been very few creative actions; in large part due to the fact that actions are permitted in two small areas and UN police are harassing observers for handing out flyers!
Nevertheless there have been two great actions against dirty Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project types, incineration and coal. Yesterday, wastepickers that belong to the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) staged a vibrant action. Read more
How do waste picking jobs link up with threatening climate change? Waste pickers from across South Africa will learn about, and discuss this issue in a three day workshop. Together with waste pickers from India, Latin America, Kenya and Senegal they will prepare for the Cop 17 … COP 17 begins on 28 November. While this conference is happening waste pickers will have their own meetings … December 3 is a global day of action. All members of civil society, including the trade unions and environmental organisations, will demonstrate the importance of protecting our planet against disaster. Waste pickers will come out in their numbers to state that they are mitigating the effects of climate change by recycling waste so governments should value them and give them good support and opportunities.
