Birds scavenge from the waste at Robinson Deep landfill, Johannesburg's largest landfill.
Birds scavenge from the waste at Robinson Deep landfill, Johannesburg's largest...READ ON
Birds scavenge from the waste at Robinson Deep landfill, Johannesburg's largest landfill.
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Neo Pako, 22 , who has been a "reclaimer" for three years, walks through the building called Bekezela (Patience) which used to be a school until 2007 and is since the home to many informal waste collectors "recyclers" who gather waste from various areas, separate it and transport it on trolleys to recycling plants in the city in Johannesburg.
Neo Pako, 22 , who has been a "reclaimer" for three years, walks through the...READ ON
Neo Pako, 22 , who has been a "reclaimer" for three years, walks through the building called Bekezela (Patience) which used to be a school until 2007 and is since the home to many informal waste collectors "recyclers" who gather waste from various areas, separate it and transport it on trolleys to recycling plants in the city in Johannesburg.
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Oscar Maile, 29, pulls his trolley as he collects waste in Johannesburg city. Maile has been doing this for three years and says there are often fights on the streets with other reclaimers. He sometimes does two or three rounds collecting waste to earn enough for the day. Each round paying him R30 - R40 which is the equivalent of approximately $2.
Oscar Maile, 29, pulls his trolley as he collects waste in Johannesburg city. Maile has...READ ON
Oscar Maile, 29, pulls his trolley as he collects waste in Johannesburg city. Maile has been doing this for three years and says there are often fights on the streets with other reclaimers. He sometimes does two or three rounds collecting waste to earn enough for the day. Each round paying him R30 - R40 which is the equivalent of approximately $2.
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A reclaimer at Robinson Deep landfill, Johannesburg's largest landfill on June 29, 2018. Reclaimers complain of not having adequate protective clothing and as a result suffering infections and other health issues.
A reclaimer at Robinson Deep landfill, Johannesburg's largest landfill on June 29,...READ ON
A reclaimer at Robinson Deep landfill, Johannesburg's largest landfill on June 29, 2018. Reclaimers complain of not having adequate protective clothing and as a result suffering infections and other health issues.
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Clothing hangs on a washing line of a building called Bekezela (Patience) which used to be a school until 2007 and is since the home to many informal waste collectors "reclaimers" who gather waste from various areas, separate it and transport it on trolleys to various recycling plants in the city.
Clothing hangs on a washing line of a building called Bekezela (Patience) which used to...READ ON
Clothing hangs on a washing line of a building called Bekezela (Patience) which used to be a school until 2007 and is since the home to many informal waste collectors "reclaimers" who gather waste from various areas, separate it and transport it on trolleys to various recycling plants in the city.
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Reclaimers Micheal Morosi (L) and Johannes Matona pose for a portrait at Mudimu Recycling, a buy back centre in Selby, Johannesburg where reclaimers bring waste to be weighed and sold
Reclaimers Micheal Morosi (L) and Johannes Matona pose for a portrait at Mudimu...READ ON
Reclaimers Micheal Morosi (L) and Johannes Matona pose for a portrait at Mudimu Recycling, a buy back centre in Selby, Johannesburg where reclaimers bring waste to be weighed and sold
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Oscar Maile, 29, collects waste in Johannesburg city on June 27, 2018.
Oscar Maile, 29, collects waste in Johannesburg city on June 27, 2018.
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Plastic lines the sides of building called Bekezela (Patience) which used to be a school until 2007 and is since the home to many informal waste collectors "reclaimers" who gather waste from various areas, separate it and transport it on trolleys to various buy back centres.
Plastic lines the sides of building called Bekezela (Patience) which used to be a...READ ON
Plastic lines the sides of building called Bekezela (Patience) which used to be a school until 2007 and is since the home to many informal waste collectors "reclaimers" who gather waste from various areas, separate it and transport it on trolleys to various buy back centres.
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Oscar Maile, 29, pulls his trolley as he collects waste in Johannesburg city on June 27, 2018. Oscar Maile has been doing this for three years and says there are often fights on the streets with other reclaimers. He sometimes does two or three rounds collecting waste to earn enough for the day.
Oscar Maile, 29, pulls his trolley as he collects waste in Johannesburg city on June 27,...READ ON
Oscar Maile, 29, pulls his trolley as he collects waste in Johannesburg city on June 27, 2018. Oscar Maile has been doing this for three years and says there are often fights on the streets with other reclaimers. He sometimes does two or three rounds collecting waste to earn enough for the day.
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Plastic waste is dumped in an abandoned building in downtown Johannesburg.
Plastic waste is dumped in an abandoned building in downtown Johannesburg.
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Melusi Ngoma (28) Vusi Matuna (28), Oscar Maile () buy back centre in Selby, Johannesburg where reclaimers bring waste to be weighed and sold.
Melusi Ngoma (28) Vusi Matuna (28), Oscar Maile () buy back centre in Selby, Johannesburg...READ ON
Melusi Ngoma (28) Vusi Matuna (28), Oscar Maile () buy back centre in Selby, Johannesburg where reclaimers bring waste to be weighed and sold.
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A reclaimer, sometimes called silver surfers, pulls his load of waste on a trolley into Mudimu Recycling, a buy back centre in Selby, Johannesburg, where reclaimers bring waste to be weighed and sold.
A reclaimer, sometimes called silver surfers, pulls his load of waste on a trolley into...READ ON
A reclaimer, sometimes called silver surfers, pulls his load of waste on a trolley into Mudimu Recycling, a buy back centre in Selby, Johannesburg, where reclaimers bring waste to be weighed and sold.
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Grace Mudimu calls a reclaimer to pay him through a metal door at Mudimu Recycling, a buy back centre in Selby, Johannesburg where reclaimers bring waste to be weighed and sold.
Grace Mudimu calls a reclaimer to pay him through a metal door at Mudimu Recycling, a buy...READ ON
Grace Mudimu calls a reclaimer to pay him through a metal door at Mudimu Recycling, a buy back centre in Selby, Johannesburg where reclaimers bring waste to be weighed and sold.
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waste picker wears a balaclava at Mudimu Recycling, a buy back centre in Selby, Johannesburg.
waste picker wears a balaclava at Mudimu Recycling, a buy back centre in Selby,...READ ON
waste picker wears a balaclava at Mudimu Recycling, a buy back centre in Selby, Johannesburg.
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Reclaimer walks through Kwa-Mai Mai recyclers standing area where many reclaimers park their trolleys and separate the waste in Johannesburg.
Reclaimer walks through Kwa-Mai Mai recyclers standing area where many reclaimers park...READ ON
Reclaimer walks through Kwa-Mai Mai recyclers standing area where many reclaimers park their trolleys and separate the waste in Johannesburg.
Life in Plastic
While Plastic pollution has become a dangerous global problem, for some, recycling means the difference between a meal or going hungry every day.
Poverty, unemployment seeking better opportunities far from their homes and often drug dependence has caused many people to turn to the urban informal economy for survival; a life that especially for waste pickers mean living on the fringes of society. While South Africa slowly moves toward formalising the recycling sector, working in the informal waste economy results in waste pickers face numerous challenges everyday from exposure to unhealthy working conditions, stigmatisation, volatile changes to the market and even turf fighting.
A study by the University of the Western Cape shows that South Africa generates about 54 425 t a day of waste and that there is about R17-billion worth of waste that goes to landfill every year, which remains uncollected for reuse or recycling.
The informal waste sector employs an estimated 60 000 to 90 000 people, who are self-employed waste pickers, collecting a high percentage of South Africa’s recyclables and on average work between 8 and 14 hours a day, earning between a meagre R50 ($3,5) and R100 ($7) a day.
This short story is about the waste pickers / reclaimers (street surfers) in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Gulshan Khan
South African Photographer Gulshan Khan everydayafrica @worldpressphoto 6x6 Talent Africa / @womenphotograph