Venue: Mumbai Hall, Verulam, Durban
Date: 15 July 2025
Number of Waste Pickers Trained: 144
MetPac-SA once again showed their commitment to and dedication towards skills development and training for SAWPA (South African Waste Pickers Association) waste pickers in South Africa. The excitement was palpable, and the waste pickers could not contain their joy at the stunning venue that MetPac-SA had arranged for the workshop.
The venue was decorated in royal blue and white, perfectly aligning with MetPac-SA’s corporate colours, with a touch of gold and a glimmer of green to match the SAWPA brand. SAWPA waste pickers were awarded VIP status with a red-carpet entrance to salute them as the VIPs of environmental sustainability in South Africa. The event was officially opened by Khosi Mbatha, a MetPac-SA Project Manager. Dr. Ravi Nadar rendered the official welcome on behalf of the CEO of MetPac-SA, Dr. Kishan Singh, who sent his warm greetings to SAWPA.
Dr. Ravi Nadar welcomed all the guests in attendance and thanked all the SAWPA waste pickers for being incredible ambassadors for the environment. He spoke about the importance of recycling and keeping the planet waste-free for future generations. He also emphasised the importance of separation at source as a means of advancing community recycling efforts and the adoption of a circular economy.
MetPac-SA had procured two experts to provide financial skills development training and expert training on how to apply for government funding. The financial skills training included key lessons: budgeting, saving goals, financial planning, how to start a business, and the documents required to do so. The waste pickers were taught in detail how to apply for government funding and how to fill in the required forms. They were further taught about the importance of keeping receipts from buy-back centres as a means of showing proof of income. The waste pickers received a great level of detail on financial skills and financial management to ensure they could progress their businesses to the next level and own their own buy-back centres.
Most waste pickers voiced their passion and goal to establish their own buy-back centres. They are motivated to create jobs within the waste sector and grow the industry in South Africa.
Both experts lectured with great precision, and Khosi Mbatha translated all the content into isiZulu to make it more inclusive for all the waste pickers present.
eThekwini Municipality was in attendance and gave a full presentation on waste diversion and creating sustainable jobs to grow the economy. eThekwini Municipality presented valuable information on how to reduce litter and pollution as a means of conserving natural resources. The preservation of natural resources is vital as it helps to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. The importance of separating recyclables from non-recyclables was highlighted, as was the importance of rinsing and washing tins and cans with water before placing them in a separate bag.
The financial skills development training focused on the importance of budgeting, saving, setting a saving goal, and how to start a business. Most waste pickers spoke about their wish to start their own buy-back centres. The financial skills provided equipped all waste pickers with key practical knowledge on how to start their own business and on accessing funding to do so. Waste pickers have a great opportunity to create jobs through the establishment of buy-back centres. They want to improve the landscape of South Africa by creating jobs in the waste sector and becoming waste entrepreneurs.
The catering was prepared by Mumbai Caterers, who excelled in their food. Waste pickers had breakfast in the morning with baked pastries, as well as a mouth-watering lunch and afternoon tea with sandwiches.
MetPac-SA took their commitment to waste pickers even further by empowering 144 SAWPA waste pickers with PPE, including winter scarves and winter beanies, to ensure they are formal and dignified while doing their job for environmental sustainability.
MetPac-SA is at the forefront of waste picker integration in South Africa; they ensured that all SAWPA waste pickers present at the workshop were fully registered on SAPRAS 2.0.
For more info about SAWPA, visit: www.wastepickers.org.za
