Waste also can become a source of income
Dumisile Magagula
Date: 21 June 2024
Name: Dumisile Magagula
Municipality:Emalahleni local Municipality
Province: Mpumalanga
Waste can also become a source of income
The facts of Andile’s story is that he is making money from helping the community become clean and not thinking about his health impacts. Andile started to be a waste picker when his mother passed away in 2019 because he had to support his younger brother. He also said that he has grown fond of this job as a waste picker. This means a lot to him as he is not just picking waste, but protecting the lives of many people by cleaning the community. He is making money from helping the community which is a great help to him and his sibling.
The Municipality does not collect waste in some of the sections of Empumelelweni. Andile’s main concern is that he does not possess any safety equipment, and picking up waste puts his health at risk. He is at high risk of getting diseases such as cholera and tuberculosis, and getting injured from the unsafe objects disposed of by the residents.
The community is also not safe from the negative effects of the waste. Kids who play on the streets are in danger, especially the younger ones who cannot differentiate between right and wrong. His journey to be a waste picker began when he accompanied his friend to the nearest illegal dumping site to pick up recyclable waste. That became a lesson and he decided to help the community while making money. He also aimed to eradicate the waste disposal issue at illegal dumping sites.
We have provided Andile with the required basic safety equipment such as gloves, PPE, and a musk which is the most important part of the safety gear because the sickness is most likely to get into him through his mouth and nose. We have also advised him to register as a waste picker to acquire an access card to private premises where he will be able to enter and collect recyclable waste.
Waste pickers are reducing the amount of waste that ends up in the rivers, streams, and all over our communities. Andile goes to every household to request recyclable waste. He is part of the initiative that aims to keep the community clean and free from chemicals that come from the waste. He also mentioned the importance of keeping animal habitats clean and that they form a big part of our environment. Such as trees.
The Emalahleni Local Municipality has an extensive EPWP programme which Is funded through the national grant and augmented by the Municipality’s internal funding. There are also CWP workers who are always spotted in our communities, however we cannot see any progress in their work. They are earning to appear as workers and not to work.
The Emalahleni residents are fortunate to have local heroes such as Andile who do not sit and complain but take initiative, not only for financial benefits but they have our best interest at heart as the residents of Emalahleni. Andile believes that the lives of people must be prioritized by the Municipality. The issue of waste largely impacts low-income settlements, hence the government’s apathy in speeding up the implementation of their plans in solving the issue of waste.
