Govan Mbeki Municipality hosted a waste collectors’ and recycling workshop in Bethal
The session also emphasised how recyclable materials can be used as a sustainable source of income for waste collectors.
The Govan Mbeki Local Municipality Solid Waste Management Section, in partnership with the Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs (DARDLEA) and MetPac-SA, hosted a waste collectors’ and recycling workshop at the Bethal Town Hall on March 12.
The workshop brought together local waste pickers, collectors, buy-back centres, and recycling co-operatives to equip them with the knowledge needed to formalise their recycling activities and improve their livelihoods.
Presenters from MetPac-SA and PETCO focused on helping participants identify different types of recyclable packaging materials and highlighted the importance of separating waste at the source.
The session also emphasised how recyclable materials can be used as a sustainable source of income for waste collectors.
The initiative highlighted the impact of the Zonda Insila Programme, an initiative led by DARDLEA aimed at eliminating illegal dumping while empowering unemployed youth and women in the municipality. The programme’s name translates to “Hate Dirt.”
To support the dignity and safety of waste collectors, full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was distributed to all workshop attendees.
According to Donald Green, the municipality’s content developer and media liaison, the workshop forms part of broader efforts by the municipality to strengthen waste management systems and reduce illegal dumping in communities such as eMbalenhle and Bethal.
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