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How South Africa’s informal waste pickers (reclaimers) are gaining recognition in an invisible trade

Informal waste picking is a taxing and hazardous line of work. These individuals, known as reclaimers in South Africa, labour in harsh environments with little protective gear, routinely enduring workdays that can stretch up to a gruelling 12 hours.

In addition, because informal waste picking is not an officially recognised profession, reclaimers face suspicion, verbal threats and, in some cases, even physical violence.But for many residents in South Africa who live on the fringes of society, often in extreme poverty and lacking access to higher education, they have little choice; collecting waste has a low barrier to entry.

And so, the reclaimers bear the scorn and risks.

“There are some residents who really don’t understand what we do. They call us names and insult us when we [reclaimers] come to take waste from their bins, says Khoali. “They think we are criminals and looking to steal things, but we are just trying to make an honest living by collecting recyclables.”

As a woman, Khoali says she faces even more dangers. One of them is territorial rival reclaimers.

In Johannesburg, many live by the scraps they earn from picking waste. It is a thankless, hard and dangerous lifestyle. The African Reclaimers Organisation (ARO), an organisation formed to unite informal waste workers, is working hard to change this narrative. Through the support of the Alliance, ARO has launched initiatives to make informal waste picking more dignified, safer and sustainable.