Waste Picker Personal Protective Equipment Handover
Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal — 29 October 2025
MetPac-SA, in partnership with the South African Waste Picker Association (SAWPA), hosted a Waste Picker Recognition Event to honour the invaluable role waste pickers play in South Africa’s recycling value chain. The event, held from 09h00 to 15h00 in Verulam, celebrated, dignified, and empowered waste pickers whose daily efforts contribute directly to the country’s circular economy and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework.
Key persons at SAWPA for this initiative included Sibusiso Swalibane, Chairperson of SAWPA KZN, and Robert Mfeka, SAWPA Chairperson (Verulam), who played an instrumental role in organising the event and ensuring meaningful engagement with the waste picker community.
Waste pickers form a critical part of South Africa’s recycling system, collecting post-consumer packaging and other recyclables, selling these materials at buy-back centres, and ensuring that valuable resources are recovered, sorted, and channelled back into the economy for remelting and reuse.
The day’s programme was hosted by MetPac-SA’s Project Manager, Ms Khosi Mbatha, who guided proceedings with enthusiasm and respect. The event opened with an address by Dr. Kishan Singh, CEO of MetPac-SA, who expressed heartfelt gratitude to the waste pickers for their tireless contributions. In his message, Dr. Singh highlighted the central role of waste pickers in promoting circularity, sustainability, and economic inclusion within the EPR system.
He also emphasised the importance of registering on the SAWPRS 2.0 national waste picker database, an initiative designed to build a comprehensive picture of the sector’s footprint across South Africa. Through accurate data and analysis, the database enables policymakers, industry, and producer responsibility organisations to better understand the needs, challenges, and opportunities facing waste pickers, ultimately ensuring more effective support and recognition.
As the event’s main sponsor, MetPac-SA provided 150 waste pickers with full sets of personal protective equipment (PPE), reflecting the organisation’s commitment to safety, dignity, and empowerment within the informal recycling sector. The venue was vibrantly decorated in MetPac-SA’s colours, creating a sense of pride and belonging, while the MetPac-SA public awareness song played throughout the day, reinforcing the organisation’s mission of promoting the recovery and reuse of post-consumer metal packaging.
The day also included a lunch for all attendees, providing a relaxed opportunity for waste pickers, organisers, and stakeholders to network, share experiences, and build a sense of community. The lunch highlighted the organisation’s dedication to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where waste pickers felt valued and respected.
The event was organised in close collaboration with the Verulam SAWPA Working Committee, led by Robert Mfeka, Chairperson of SAWPA Verulam, and supported by SAWPA’s regional coordination team. Their partnership ensured that the event was community-driven and meaningful to those it was designed to celebrate.
The response from the waste pickers was overwhelmingly positive. Many expressed deep gratitude for the PPE donations and the recognition event itself, describing it as an uplifting experience that validated their often-overlooked contributions. For many, the day symbolised not just appreciation, but inclusion, an acknowledgement that their work is essential to the nation’s sustainability goals and the health of the environment.
The event also served as a key component in MetPac-SA fulfilling its obligations under Section 18 of the National Environmental Management: Waste Act (NEMWA). By recognising waste pickers, promoting their formal inclusion, providing PPE, and facilitating training and awareness, MetPac-SA demonstrates compliance as a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) in ensuring safe, responsible, and sustainable waste management practices.
This recognition is more than a statutory requirement, it represents a broader commitment to advancing the professionalism, safety, and integration of waste pickers into South Africa’s formal recycling economy. Through these efforts, MetPac-SA strengthens collaboration with SAWPA and other key stakeholders, supporting an environment where waste pickers are empowered, valued, and supported. The event highlighted the organisation’s dedication to sustainability, social responsibility, and circular economy principles, creating a lasting impact that extends beyond a single day. By actively promoting safe practices, awareness, and community engagement, MetPac-SA reinforces its role as a leading PRO, contributing meaningfully to both environmental stewardship and the socio-economic upliftment of waste pickers nationwide.
Figure 1 MetPac-SA team with SAWPA Representatives
Figure 2 Khosi Mbatha addressing the waste pickers.
Figure 3 Dr Kishan Singh engaging with Waste Pickers.
Figure 4 SAWPA Waste Pickers receiving PPE hampers.
Report Compiled by: Rishant Harichunder
Attendees:
Dr Kishan Singh – MetPac-SA
Dr Ravi Nadar – MetPac-SA
Rishant Harichunder – MetPac-SA
Khosi Mbatha – MetPac-SA
