Informal waste collectors recover more than 60% of South Africa’s paper and packaging waste, playing a crucial role in the recycling economy. However, they often work under difficult conditions with limited equipment and resources available to enable them to manage these loads.
This January, a project in Bellville, Cape Town, run by The Greater Tygerberg Partnership, together with the City of Cape Town and EPR Waste Association of South Africa NPO, provided support and tools to the informal waste collectors in their community. Along with skills development and business training, they supplied new, branded trolleys, making collections safer and easier for these individuals.
Through the design, these trolleys are enabling these individuals to collect more, doing less trips, and making them more efficient in the long run. These trolleys also make it safer for them to do collections and travel between areas. And while it is an empowerment and necessary resource for the collectors, this increased effort contributes to a cleaner Bellville area for the community at large.
This type of initiative boosts support for a critical group within South Africa’s recycling economy, enabling better waste management and recycling practices while creating valuable income opportunities for individuals.
Learn more about the role of informal collectors in SST’s Plastic-Free Seas Guidebook and the Plastic-Free Seas Video.
