Waste reclaimers in rural Mpumalanga are receiving vital support through a partnership programme aimed at improving safety, dignity and access to the formal recycling economy.

Fibre Circle, working with TRANSFORM and the African Reclaimers Organisation (ARO), recently handed over personal protective equipment to 250 reclaimers in Msukaligwa Local Municipality. The latest handover, held in Ermelo, brings the total number of reclaimers reached by the programme to 550 so far.

The initiative forms part of a 13-month Resident Reclaimer Recycling Programme focused on helping reclaimers work in safer conditions while improving their livelihoods. It also seeks to integrate them into the formal recycling economy and recognise their role in keeping recyclable materials in circulation.

Fibre Circle chief executive Edith Leeuta said the handover was about more than protective clothing. She said it was also about recognising the dignity of reclaimers and supporting the contribution they make every day to the recycling value chain.

The programme aims to divert more than 5 000 tonnes of recyclable waste from landfill and reduce the burning of recyclable material, which carries both health and environmental risks. Reclaimers involved in the programme are also being linked to the South African Waste Pickers Registration System, opening the door to greater visibility and access to support.

Other interventions include logistics and transport support, access to fair market-related prices, one-tonne bulk bags for storage and collection, training, wellness support and banking services. Participants are also enrolled in a R20 000 funeral plan scheme, offering a level of financial security that is often out of reach for informal workers.

ARO programme manager Noluthando Tutani said reclaimers remain crucial to South Africa’s recycling system, despite often working without proper recognition or support. She said initiatives such as this help improve working conditions and create opportunities for inclusion.

The programme reflects a growing recognition that effective recycling systems depend not only on infrastructure, but also on the people who collect and recover reusable material every day. For many reclaimers in Mpumalanga, that recognition could now translate into safer work and better opportunities.