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Petition is successful with 3,713 signatures
To: City of Johannesburg and Pikitup
Stop Johannesburg's R50 recycling fee that threatens reclaimers' livelihood
Following opposition, the City of Johannesburg has withdrawn the proposed R50 recycling fee, see https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/coj-pikitup-withdraw-r50-recycling-levy-proposal-2021-05-13
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We demand that the City of Johannesburg and Pikitup:
1. Put an immediate stop to the R50 recycling fee
2. Develop a reclaimer-based recycling system through consultation with reclaimers
1. Put an immediate stop to the R50 recycling fee
2. Develop a reclaimer-based recycling system through consultation with reclaimers
Why is this important?
Starting from 1 July, residents living in houses worth more than R350 000 could potentially pay a R50 “recycling fee” if the City of Johannesburg’s proposed waste management tariff is approved.
The City said that the R50 additional levy will go to Pikitup to extend a separation at source (S@S) programme which has already been piloted in a few suburbs in Johannesburg.
The City places the bill at the feet of “affluent” residents to extend the S@S pilot programme yet provides no research or statistics to support it. Residents are expected to buy into a system they know nothing about despite having very little trust in the government to provide services and use the money for its intended purpose.
Not only does this recycling fee raise more questions and concerns for residents, it is a grave threat to the livelihood of reclaimers who depend on the collection of recyclables for their daily living. The extension of this project will decrease reclaimers’ access to bins which will significantly decrease their income.
Reclaimers collect between 80 - 90 % of used packaging collected for recycling, saving municipalities millions of rands per year. The contribution of reclaimers cannot be overlooked or underestimated.
There are alternatives to the City's proposal. As African Reclaimers Organisation (ARO), we have been piloting our own S@S programme, where we work directly with residents in Brixton and Auckland Park who separate materials for us.
Instead of destroying our jobs, Pikitup should expand our pilot across the city.
We call on residents to:
1. Sign this petition to stop the recycling fee and protect reclaimers’ jobs
2. Object to the recycling fee by completing this IDP comment form: https://share.hsforms.com/1xa2Cg-qnRxajkHAoDwsivw469tl (deadline is 8 May 2021)
3. Get in contact with ARO on Facebook/ Instagram or email to see how we can develop a resident-reclaimer S@S programme in your area
No recycling without reclaimers!
Social media: @africanreclaimers
Email: [email protected]
The City said that the R50 additional levy will go to Pikitup to extend a separation at source (S@S) programme which has already been piloted in a few suburbs in Johannesburg.
The City places the bill at the feet of “affluent” residents to extend the S@S pilot programme yet provides no research or statistics to support it. Residents are expected to buy into a system they know nothing about despite having very little trust in the government to provide services and use the money for its intended purpose.
Not only does this recycling fee raise more questions and concerns for residents, it is a grave threat to the livelihood of reclaimers who depend on the collection of recyclables for their daily living. The extension of this project will decrease reclaimers’ access to bins which will significantly decrease their income.
Reclaimers collect between 80 - 90 % of used packaging collected for recycling, saving municipalities millions of rands per year. The contribution of reclaimers cannot be overlooked or underestimated.
There are alternatives to the City's proposal. As African Reclaimers Organisation (ARO), we have been piloting our own S@S programme, where we work directly with residents in Brixton and Auckland Park who separate materials for us.
Instead of destroying our jobs, Pikitup should expand our pilot across the city.
We call on residents to:
1. Sign this petition to stop the recycling fee and protect reclaimers’ jobs
2. Object to the recycling fee by completing this IDP comment form: https://share.hsforms.com/1xa2Cg-qnRxajkHAoDwsivw469tl (deadline is 8 May 2021)
3. Get in contact with ARO on Facebook/ Instagram or email to see how we can develop a resident-reclaimer S@S programme in your area
No recycling without reclaimers!
Social media: @africanreclaimers
Email: [email protected]