 | Drakenstein Municipality’s street trolley waste picker pilot project haltedAlderman Conrad Poole, Executive Mayor of Drakenstein Municipality, has on receipt of a report regarding the street trolley waste picker pilot project and a subsequent recommendation by Dr Johan Leibbrandt, the City Manager, took a decision that the pilot
01 March 2023 | Press Releases |
28 February 2023
Alderman Conrad Poole, Executive Mayor of Drakenstein Municipality, has on receipt of a report regarding the street trolley waste picker pilot project and a subsequent recommendation by Dr Johan Leibbrandt, the City Manager, took a decision that the pilot project be cancelled.
In an effort to manage Drakenstein’s competitive (and in some cases law-breaking) informal waste pickers, the Municipality introduced the street trolley waste picker pilot project late last year. It is estimated that 120 to 150 informal street trolley waste pickers roam the central business districts and neighbourhoods of Paarl and Wellington.
“Our intention was - from a humanitarian point of view - to support people who endeavour to, in tough economic times, put bread on the table for their families. The Municipality supports anyone who is committed to making a living in an orderly manner,” said Alderman Poole.
Over the past couple of years, the Municipality launched various innovative projects and programmes to effectively deal with waste-related challenges. These include its award-winning wastepreneur project which transformed illegal and often ill-disciplined landfill site waste pickers into orderly, legal wastepreneurs who now work in safer conditions and earn a sustainable monthly income.
“However, much of the street trolley waste picker pilot project’s success depended on the participants’ adherence to clearly stipulated rules, which did not happen; therefore the pilot project has been cancelled,” said Alderman Poole.
Temporary permits issued in this regard have been withdrawn.
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Issued by: Communication and Marketing, Drakenstein Municipality
