JOHN NDLOVU
Informal waste material pickers have an SOS to the country’s environment management body Environmental Management Agency (EMA) for recognition.
The litter pickers are pleading for permits so that they can attain recognition in the industry which will ensure easy passage in the dissemination of their duties.
Zim GBC News crew took a snap survey in the outskirts of the Bulawayo Central Business District where some individuals who claimed to make a living on collecting litter and distributing to recycling companies stated that lack of adequate documentation has been a major hiccup in their business as they face challenges especially from law enforcement agents who are said to be demanding permits from them upon picking litter.
Jacob, a waste picker who deals with recycling material stated that he has been making a living on picking waste, sell the material to be recycled to recycling companies such as Delta Beverages and Chinese companies but said there has been challenges in market due to the fact that their profession is still yet to penetrate the target market especially in Bulawayo.
“I have been living on picking waste material and selling them to companies such as Delta Beverages for recycling, however we have been facing challenges of low market due to the fact that we are yet to reach out to a wider target market especially here in Bulawayo.”Jacob said
The soft spoken waste material dealer also pleaded with the Environmental Management Agency to grant them permits so that their profession can receive recognition and be formalized so that even their customers (big companies) would be fair to them.
“I am pleading with the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) to grant us permits so that our work will progress well swiftly, sometimes we face challenges when picking litter from law enforcement agents and even people chasing us away from doing so not realizing that, that is where our lives depend on.”He added
Jacob also told this reporter that scarcity of recycling companies in Bulawayo has been another major drawback towards their smooth flow of business.
Speaking at the Clean up campaign held last Friday in Bulawayo Environment Management Agency(EMA) Provincial Manager Sithembisiwe Ndlovu encouraged people to always take care of the city and avoid dumping of waste as some people need that waste for recycling.
Litter picking has been one of the undermined profession in Zimbabwe as most people are not really sure if the profession bears any fruits.
Recycling refers to a process of transforming waste materials into new products that can be reused in some way, it is also a key component of modern waste reduction strategies and it helps to conserve natural resources.