Dear Residents,

In recent months there has been growing public debate on the role of reclaimers (also known as waste pickers).

Dr. Melanie Samson (Senior Lecturer in Human Geography at Wits University https://www.wits.ac.za/gaes/staff/academic-staff/dr-melanie-samson), has kindly arranged an informative talk about this very subject, a subject that residents oftentimes have conflicting views about.

In this talk, Dr Samson and representatives from ARO (African Reclaimers Association) will explain how reclaimers created South Africa’s system to collect recyclables; the contributions that they make to the economy, environment and society; and the negative effects for everyone when they are excluded from official separation at source programmes.

She will outline how separation at source programmes can, and should, build on the system created by reclaimers, providing South African and international examples. The talk will conclude by discussing the role that residents can play in creating a just, inclusive, and effective recycling economy.

For more information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rc7NcmA5Gs.

Specific questions we hope to answer for our community:

• Do these reclaimers/waste-pickers constitute a security threat to our community?
• Do they provide a worthwhile and valuable service?
• What sort of materials do they reclaim? (A crate of examples will be provided to demonstrate.)
• Is there anything that we can do as individuals, and as a community, to assist this recycling process and help these reclaimers?
• What plastics materials do they not reclaim and where can we dispose of these in the most ecologically acceptable way? (A crate of examples will be provided.)
• What else can we do to reduce litter in our suburb?

Please come with more of your own questions and an open mind.

Dr Samson’s talk will commence at 19h00 on Wednesday 9 October, at Randpark Primary School Hall. Security will be provided for your cars by CSS – please park in Boekenhout Street.

This event is free-of-charge and is for RRVA and non-RRVA local residents. We would value an RSVP, so we are aware of numbers on the evening.

*The RRVA Lecture Series is intended to bring people in our community together, encourage active participation and inform residents to build a stronger and more prosperous community!*

Thank you.