Member organisation the PRO Alliance, mass-based democratic organisation the African Reclaimers Organisation (ARO) and registered waste pickers organisation the South African Waste Pickers Association (SAWPA) have announced a collaboration that aims to integrate tens of thousands of waste pickers into the formal recycling economy.
Facilitated and partially funded by the Fair Circularity Initiative (FCI) to fast-track waste picker integration in South Africa, the Waste Picker Integration Project will support producer responsibility organisations (PROs) in overcoming critical systemic challenges.
South Africa generates millions of tonnes of packaging waste yearly, with a considerable amount of this recovered by reclaimers who form the backbone of the country’s recycling system, yet remain excluded from the benefits outlined in the country’s extended producer responsibility (EPR) policy, the organisations point out.
Many registered reclaimers lack access to buy-back centres (BBCs) with compliant systems, while others working at equipped sites remain unregistered on the national waste picker registration system, SAWPRS, they add.
The Waste Picker Integration Project aims to address these challenges, build trust between waste picker organisations and PROs and advance meaningful integration.
