NEWS

It’s not uncommon to see waste pickers moving through neighbourhoods on collection day, opening bins and removing recyclable materials before the municipal truck arrives. Some residents feel frustrated by the mess left behind or concerned about people going through their bins. But, it’s important to understand why this is happening. Waste pickers aren’t doing this to cause harm — they are trying to survive and sorting recycling in the process.

This is a step-by-step guide on how any stakeholder in Makhanda's solid waste management can meaningfully include us in their plans to improve the city's waste management systems.

He didn’t want to go back home. Instead he wanted to go back to the dumpsite. When we got there I found a group of young men playing chess and I was impressed. I have been thinking that if activities like these can be supported and strengthened to help develop these young people, and how initiatives like these can contribute towards improving Grahamstown’s economy.

Xolani, one of the waste pickers, came across a small dead baby wrapped in a red and pink towel mixed with domestic waste. This is not for the first time it happened and without waste pickers no one would have known about babies thrown away with the waste. It is likely there are many cases that go unreported.

The driveway into the dump is a dirt road surrounded by shrubs covered in dust that have grocery bags clinging onto their branches. The area looks like a disaster. Except for a tiny security room at the gate, and a grader that occasionally levels heaps of waste, there is no municipal presence. There is no infrastructure or ablution facilities to practice basic hygiene.