Mike’s Recycling Workshop in collaboration with The Back To Work Campaign (B2WC) and Xchange Connexion, hosted a “clean-up and green-up” event in Vrygrond, on Saturday October 22.
Nearly 70 people including members of the Recycling Workshop, waste-pickers and recycling sorters from Vrygrond and surrounding communities, Tracy Stallard from Xchange Connexion, Ward 45 councillor Mandy Marr and PR councillors Frances Lombard, attended the event.
Mike Kumalo, owner of Mike’s Recycling Workshop said the campaign focused on cleaning and greening the community of Vrygrond to highlight the lack of job opportunities and the denial of access to the Coastal Park Landfill Site to waste pickers/recyclers by the City of Cape Town.
The Coastal Park Landfill was closed to waste-pickers for a few reasons. “Originally, there were two Vrygrond-based companies working on the site. Over time, companies and individuals from other communities came to work at the site too. As competition grew, so too did conflict. There were territorial fights that broke out between rival entities. There were some attacks on the Landfill’s security guards. Work was also disrupted at the Landfill as the waste-pickers prevented the staff from doing their work because there were people in the way,” said Mr Kumalo.
The group spent over an hour walking around Vrygrond, picking up recycling from the streets and drains and advocating for a “cleaner, greener Vrygrond and jobs in the green economy, (with) over 290kgs of recycling collected,” he said.
Mr Kumalo added: “The closure of the landfill site to waste-pickers effectively cut off their income stream forcing some to turn to crime to survive.”
Ms Marr said recycling played a pivotal role in society. “I’m beyond excited about this incredibly important collaboration which aims to promote recycling, create sustainable jobs, clean up our city and save our environment.
“What touched me most were the children who joined with such enthusiasm. Seeing how we can work to ensure their futures are successful motivates me even more,” said Ms Marr.