Waste pickers in Vrygrond have been barred from entering a local landfill site which in turn is taking away livelihoods and food from many families.
Mike’s Recycling Workshop and Xchange Connexion have since created the Back To Work Campaign (B2WC) to highlight the role waste pickers and recycling plants play in the community.
Mike Khumalo, from Mike’s Recycling Workshop, says the aim of the campaign is to highlight job creation for the unemployed in Vrygrond.
“The issue and the purpose of the campaign is raising awareness on the importance of recycling when it comes to job creation.
“While the City of Cape Town promotes recycling and awareness, look at what is happening on the ground in Vrygrond.
“Recently the City of Cape Town has taken away access to the landfills for waste pickers.”
Khumalo added that waste pickers, who have been barred, now have no means of making an income.
“People are being blocked from accessing the landfill site which means people will be left without means of making money or putting food on the table.
“Vrygrond has a significant number of residents who are unemployed. Over the past years, B2WC has witnessed the role recyclers play in the community, to put bread on the table.”
He added that the Muizenberg Coastal Park Landfill site is situated on the doorstep of Vrygrond offering both negative impacts and positive opportunities.
“The landfill is filled with recycling which can be collected and used to generate income to many families who have previously earned a living off the site and others to relieve the unemployment pandemic in our community.
“The City of Cape Town restricted access to the Muizenberg Coastal Park Landfill Site and started to collect recycling in neighbourhoods where waste pickers and Mike’s Recycling Workshop previously operated.
“This directly resulted in loss of income for more than 30 people in Vrygrond and surrounding communities, who made important economic contributions to their families and their community.”
Khumalo claims that waste pickers, who try to access the landfill site, are being assaulted.
“People are being beaten up, there has been so many injuries of waste pickers who are trying to gain access. It is sad that you end up in hospital simply because you tried to reach rubbish which is anyway going to end up underground.
“Waste pickers regularly clean up the garbage dumped by the community to collect the recyclables; the rest of the garbage remains.”
Ward 45 councillor Mandy Marr said the City closed the landfill site after many fights that erupted between waste pickers.
“The landfill site was closed due to fighting on the site. They fight and it’s not the first time the City closed the coastal landfill site. It is unfortunate.”
Marr added that there will be a new recycling section, which is currently under construction, run by the whole community.
“It takes extra resources to resolve the fights around the waste pickers. The recyclers have my full support. I am trying everything in my power that they can continue to have an income and make a living. I am aware that the closure of the landfill site is taking away livelihoods.”
