Plumstead waste pickers are to be vetted and become official in a pursuit to improve the safety of the neighbourhood while allowing freedom of movement to bin pickers who qualify.
This initiative was launched on Tuesday 21 November thanks to the police in conjunction with Plumstead Security Service Providers (SSP’) and Plumstead Neighbourhood Watch (PNW) named “Operation Dirt Bin Recyclers”.
The modus operandi is to have each recycler in the area vetted by the police so that they do not have any criminal record and or any outstanding warrants, Gary Klugman, chair of the PNW told People’s Post.
“Once vetted, each recycler is issued with an identifiable bib, name tag, and ID photo. This will allow them unfretted access in Plumstead to recycle all packaging discarded into wheelie bins by Plumstead residents,” added Klugman.
The project is envisaged to be completed by the end of January next year due to the looming festive season and the added spike in callouts by Diep River police.
By January next year, each recycler will be issued with a standard recycling trolley. Bin pickers who do not have a bib, identity tag or specially designed trolley will be instructed by police, law enforcement, SSP’s and PNW patrollers to immediately leave the Plumstead area.
“The aim and objective of this initiative is to expunge the criminal opportunist who hides behind the mask of being genuine and long-serving recyclers in Plumstead.
“Once again, the police, law enforcement, SSP’s and Plumstead Neighbourhood Watch working to keep our community safer.”
Diep River police’s spokesperson Sgt Ashley Adonis confirmed the modus operandi.
Regenize, a recycling collection service, asks the public to support waste pickers on their website.
“The service describes waste pickers as people who “earn their living through scavenging from the disposed of goods, waste and general garbage produced by formal dwellings” (“Recycling the answer to woes”, People’s Post, 7 June 2022).
It also states that bin pickers are at the forefront of driving the recycling rate in South Africa to 7.5%.
Additionally, a memorandum, dated 25 August 2021 and signed by Solid Waste Management director Rustim Keraan, states waste pickers have been estimated to save municipalities approximately R700 million per year in collection and disposal costs.
