Report compiled by a representative from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs
1. PURPOSE
To provide a brief overview of the outcomes and proceedings of the three-day (3) Amajuba District Waste Pickers Support Programme and EPR Roadshow. This programme was conducted by the Department in partnership with MetPac-SA from May 27 to May 29, 2025, and included school visits in Madadeni, a workshop, and gap analyses in all municipalities. The programme was held at Fairleigh Community Hall in the Newcastle Local Municipality.
The primary aim was to reflect on the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations and to determine a way forward through gap analysis from schools, waste pickers, landfill sites, and buy-back centres within the Amajuba District. It also intended to support waste pickers by equipping them with knowledge, resources, and tools to enhance their safety and productivity.
The programme reaffirmed EDTEA’s and PRO’s commitment to environmental sustainability through inclusive development. It highlighted the value of integrated waste management strategies that empower local communities and ensure that frontline waste workers are not left behind.
2. PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES
i. To empower waste pickers through training and stakeholder support. ii. To improve health and safety standards at the workplace via Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) support. iii. To recognise and integrate informal waste pickers into the formal waste management system. iv. To promote awareness of separation at source and recycling practices. ii. To conduct gap analyses and identify further support mechanisms for waste pickers and buy-back centres.
3. BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
In South Africa, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) was introduced in 2021 as a mandatory environmental policy that holds producers accountable for managing the waste of their products once they are no longer used by consumers. EPR aims to reduce waste, promote recycling and reuse, and shift towards a circular economy. EPR is one of the key mechanisms in waste management practice that drives sustainability through its alignment with the objectives of the National Waste Management Strategy 2020, specifically waste diversion and minimisation. In essence, recycling has become a key concept in waste minimisation and diversion to manage waste to landfilling.
For this reason, the Department partnered with MetPac-SA to conduct ground-truthing of waste management operations in schools and to assess their willingness to participate in recycling initiatives, specifically the separation at source (S@S) program within the district. The schools that were visited responded positively to participating in the S@S initiative. Each school had an educator appointed as an environmental representative as part of the School Environmental Education Programme (SEEP), which is currently being implemented by the Department.
The S@S initiative had identified the gap of waste minimization through recycling in schools being omitted by SEEP. During the school visits, it was clear that S@S can be easily integrated into SEEP and be formalized as part of the environmental programme in schools. It was also observed that at least three (3) colour-coded recycling bins were required for the S@S initiative. The Department has identified 50 schools for the S@S program: 10 in Dannhauser, 10 in Emadlangeni, and 30 in Newcastle. However, only 50 colour-coded recycling bins have been allocated by the PRO, which is insufficient to meet the program’s needs. This shortfall in recycling bins has been recognized as a gap in implementation, highlighting the need for additional financial support to ensure successful program rollout.
Part of the partnership was to bring dignity to waste pickers and ensuring their health and safety. This was done to ensure that waste pickers preserve their human rights when reclaiming waste recyclables from Waste Disposal Facilities (at Newcastle, Emadlangeni, and Dannhauser). Therefore, the provision of minimum Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was handed over on the second day of the programme to 126 waste pickers. Amongst other deliberations on the day, the Department of Forest, Fisheries and Environment (“DFFE”) presented on the EPR implementation and its access by waste pickers for recycling support through Producer Responsibility Organisations (PRO’s). This engagement helped waste pickers identify gaps in their operations, paving the way for potential support from Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs).
The engagement on the second day led to a site visit at Waste Disposal Facilities on the last day of the programme to observe operations for possible support to the Municipalities, Buyback Centre, and Waste pickers.
4. IDENTIFIED GAPS FOR POTENTIAL SUPPORT BY PRO’S
The following were identified as gaps that require financial support from PRO’s:
A. NEWCASTLE WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITY (101 waste pickers) * Temporary shelter structure for waste pickers and their collected materials. * Ablution facility. * Bicycle wheel trollies to move bulk bags to the storage inside the landfill site. * Bulk bags.
B. EMADLANGENI WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITY (10 waste pickers) * Temporary shelter structure for waste pickers and their collected materials. * Ablution facility. * Formalising waste pickers on site (waste pickers cards). * Bicycle wheel trollies to move bulk bags to the storage inside the landfill site. * Bulk bags. * Training of waste pickers. * Construction of buyback centre.
C. DANNHAUSER WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITY (09 Waste pickers) * Bulk bags. * Bicycle wheel trollies to move bulk bags to the storage inside the landfill site. * Forklift to load baled material to the truck.
D. MPILENHLE BUYBACK CENTRE * Bulk bags. * Infrastructure (site expansion).
5. CONCLUSION
The Waste Pickers’ Empowerment Programme marks a significant step in integrating informal waste collectors into South Africa’s formal waste economy. By promoting safety, recognizing their role, and providing essential training and resources, the programme contributes meaningfully to both environmental sustainability and social upliftment. The programme reaffirmed EDTEA’s commitment to environmental sustainability through inclusive development. It highlighted the value of integrated waste management strategies that empower local communities and ensure that frontline waste workers are not left behind.
6. RECOMMENDATIONS AND FUTURE PROSPECTS
The Department recommends that MetPac-SA consider the following:
Set aside budget for S@S where possible to:
Procure colour-coded recycling bins for school’s programme to recover metal packaging waste material (50 bins).
Recycling promotional material for schools (50 schools).
Provide clear bags for household’s material recovery for 400 households (12 months).
Waste picker’s support:
Bulk bags (120 waste pickers).
Temporary shelter structure for waste pickers in Newcastle and Emadlangeni Waste Disposal Facility.
Bicycle wheel trollies to move bulk bags to the storage inside the landfill site.
Once again in November 2025, the Department will host a three-day Waste Summit. The summit aims to build capacity among a variety of stakeholders, including waste pickers operating outside disposal facilities. The key deliberations will be centred around waste diversion through implementation of separation at source and EPR implementation in the District.
We kindly request your support and participation in making the event successful. We believe this event will highlight and advance the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in waste management across the Province of KwaZulu-Natal.
Future Prospects for Waste Pickers:
This Waste Pickers’ Support Programme laid the foundation for long-term improvements in the livelihoods and recognition of waste pickers within the District. Looking ahead, key future prospects include but are not limited to:
Formalization of Waste Pickers: Continued efforts will be made to register all waste pickers into a database for their benefit from EPR scheme including incentives.
Skills Development and Upskilling: Provide on-going training to equip waste pickers with knowledge in waste economy, entrepreneurship, and access to market.
Infrastructure Support: Future programmes to provide a dedicated waste recyclables drop-off zones, and safe waste sorting areas to improve working conditions and operational efficiency.
Market Linkages: Establishing partnerships with buy-back centres, recyclers, and manufacturers to create more stable and profitable value chains for recyclable materials.
Visit the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs’ website for more info: www.kznedtea.gov.za
