In this episode, I speak with Dr. Melanie Samson, about the important role that waste reclaimers play in our cities, particularly in Johannesburg. Melanie works closely with the African Reclaimers Organisation (ARO), a non-profit group that is fighting to get waste reclaimers the rights and recognition they deserve for their hard work and ensuring that their knowledge and perspectives are incorporated in the broader waste management system.
In this episode, you'll learn about:
- why in some cities there can be no recycling without waste reclaimers,
- the precarious conditions and inequality waste reclaimers face when doing their work,
- the great strides that the African Reclaimers Organisation (ARO) has made to get reclaimers the recognition they deserve,
- why reclaimers are much more effective and efficient at collecting waste than private companies,
- the steps people can take to support waste reclaimers work in their community,
- and much more!
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Acknowledgements
Guest: Dr. Melanie Samson
Connect with ARO & Melanie
- Facebook: facebook.com/africanreclaimers
- Twitter: @africanreclaim
- Instagram: @africanreclaimers
- Website: https://www.africanreclaimers.org/
- Melanie's Email: melanies[at]uj.ac.za
Timestamps
- 04:41 | Introduction to Dr. Melanie Samson's work
- 05:04 | Why do we refer to them as waste reclaimers versus waste pickers?
- 05:58 | Why are waste reclaimers so beneficial for cities?
- 09:24 | What is the process of waste reclaiming?
- 12:24 | Where do waste reclaimers go to clean the materials that they collect?
- 13:12 | What barriers do waste reclaimers face in doing their work?
- 14:29 | How do waste reclaimers earn their money?
- 15:48 | How ARO's pilot project is showing how to properly integrate waste reclaimers into the municipal waste collection system
- 17:12 | Melanie explains the rationale and outcomes for AROs petition against the City of Johannesburg and Pikitup's levy
- 18:48 | What kind of supports, partnerships, and/or policy changes would waste reclaimers like from the city to help them do their work in a safer way?
- 20:40 | What are some ways to help reduce the stigmatization of waste reclaimers work?
- 24:23 | What is the best way for people to get involved in supporting this movement?
- 28:30 | Who are the buyers who purchase materials from waste reclaimers?
- 29:38 | How the separation at source (SAS) vs separation outside of source (SOS) systems work?
- 32:10 | How privatizing the waste management system jeopardizes the livelihoods of waste reclaimers
- 32:49 | Why waste reclaimers are much more effective and efficient at collecting waste than private companies
Show Notes
- African Reclaimers Organisation (ARO)
- Stop Johannesburg's R50 recycling fee that threatens reclaimers' livelihood (Petition)
- WWF names winners of Living Planet Award 2021
Want to learn more? Check out this episode's references!
Africa News. (2021, November 5). Art of trash: Celebrating South Africa’s overlooked waste pickers. Africa News. Retrieved from https://www.africanews.com/2021/11/05/art-of-trash-celebrating-south-africa-s-overlooked-waste-pickers/
African Reclaimers Organization (ARO). (n.d.). About. African Reclaimers Organisation. Retrieved from https://www.africanreclaimers.org/about/
Creecy, B. D. (2021). Amendments to the Regulations and Notices Regarding Extended Producer Responsibility. 23. Retrieved from https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/202105/44539gon400.pdf
Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries and Department of Science and Innovation. (2020). National Waste Management Strategy 2020. Retrieved from https://www.dffe.gov.za/sites/default/files/docs/2020nationalwaste_managementstrategy1.pdf
Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries and Department of Science and Innovation. (2020). Waste picker integration guideline for South Africa: Building the Recycling Economy and Improving Livelihoods through Integration of the Informal Sector. DEFF and DST: Pretoria. Retrieved from https://wasteroadmap.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Waste-Picker-Integration-Guidelines.pdf
Mafata, M. (2021, September 8). Informal waste reclaimers get World Wildlife Fund award. GroundUp News. Retrieved from https://www.groundup.org.za/article/informal-waste-reclaimers-receive-prestigious-award-world-wildlife-fund/
United Nations [UN]. (n.d.). Waste Wise Cities. UN-Habitat. Retrieved from https://unhabitat.org/waste-wise-cities
United Nations [UN]. (2018). Waste-Wise Cities: A Call for Action to Address the Municipal Solid Waste Challenge. UN-Habitat. Retrieved from https://urbanoctober.unhabitat.org/sites/default/files/2020-04/Advocacy_Toolkit_And_Guide.pdf
World Wildlife Fund [WWF]. (2021, August 26). WWF names winners of Living Planet Award 2021. World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved from https://www.wwf.org.za/?35962/WWF-names-winners-of-Living-Planet-Award-2021
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