04/07/2017: Pikitup: City responds to planned picket by Waste Pickers
I have been informed that Waste Pickers operating in the areas of Randburg, Northcliff and Roodepoort plan to lead a picket demonstration tomorrow, Wednesday 5 July 2017, in Braamfontein.
In their correspondence, they indicate that the protest action is against the lack of consultation by Pikitup, and the appointment by Pikitup of service providers to carry out the separation-at-source of recyclable waste in the afore-mentioned areas.
I have met with Pikitup Managing Director, Mr Lungile Dhlamini, who assured me that the entity did consult with WIEGO and the South African Waste Pickers Associations, as well as Waste Pickers operating at Pikitup’s landfill sites. Consultative meetings were held in September and October 2016 respectively, culminating into a two day workshop which was held in May 2017.
I have been assured that Pikitup is fully committed to working with Waste Pickers.
During the consultative process, the need for waste pickers to organise themselves into a representative forum were emphasised, as it is impossible to consult with every waste picker in the city. Furthermore, one of the critical deliverables by the appointed service providers is for the service providers to partner and work with Waste Pickers in order to mitigate territorial disputes.
We do acknowledge that currently there is enough recyclable materials for everyone involved in the waste recycling sector, including Waste Pickers. The waste characterisation study of 2015 conducted by Aurecon, on behalf of the City of Johannesburg and Pikitup, shows the following waste generation statistics:
• Low income areas: 6.63 kilogram per capita per week;
• Middle income areas: 7.31 kilograms per capita per week; and
• High income areas 7.21: kilograms per capita per week.
Furthermore, from the CSIR Bin Pilot Study conducted on behalf of Pikitup between January and March 2017, it can be concluded that approximately 52 kg per capita per day, is collected by waste pickers.
Therefore, Pikitup will be accelerating the Separation@Source programme, and other similar programmes with the goal of recycling and diverting approximately 73 000 tonnes of recycled waste per annum over the next five years.
As public servants, we remain committed to finding amicable solutions to the issues raised by our stakeholders, which includes Waste Pickers. Moreover, plans to introduce a monthly area cleaning programme within Johannesburg are at an advanced stage and further details in this regard will be communicated in due course.
Councillor Nico De Jager
MMC Environment and Infrastructure Services
For more information please contact:
Councillor Nico De Jager
MMC Environment and Infrastructure Services
011 587 4275/ 083 899 2127
or
Mr Lungile Dhlamini
Managing Director Pikitup
087 357 1005/ 060 994 3442
