Eco-cleaners

If you leave in any urban area chances are you've come across a homeless person pushing a trolley full of waste and wondered, what are they doing with all that waste? 

Well, I went on a mission to find out what these guys are about.  And what I found out was that these guys are literally clean up our mess for next to nothing.
They  wake up every morning go through our rubbish bins and dumps, pick out plastics, bottles or metals then take them to waste collectors like Matlaka ke Bophelo waste collectors in Mapetla, Soweto  for a little cash. Then these waste collectors take the waste to recycling centers like Mama She's waste recyclers for profit.
The cash that these Eco-cleaners get after a full days work is little. But it's feeding former beggars like Mandla and giving them some purpose. "I'm from Zimbabwe and I came to Gauteng to better my life. Unfortunately when I got here, I found out life was not as easy as I thought it would be. I was homeless and for years begged for food, until a friend told me about this recycling thing. Now I'm able to earn money and buy food for myself. It's not much but it's an honest living"
So next time you see these eco-soldiers maybe you should show some respect. Because they are doing a job that everyone's still discussing, cleaning our planet.

---

Have a story or opinion you want to share? Click here

---

What Others Said

---

Tejan said
on 24 September 2009

Cats like Mandla blow me away.. met many of 'em. usually from elsewhere in africa. they'll work their a$$es off for a pittance but do it wif a smile on their face, as long as it's an honest living. i don't know how they do it. if i was as marginalised & oppressed as they are, i'd easily turn to crime. Seeing ppl driving by in luxury vehicles not even acknowledging your existence, except when to hire yu for a day's work at below minimum wage.. keep pumping Mandla.. yu cats are the real buddhas!

---

Chris Moon said
on 24 September 2009

I like to help these guys a bit by separating my garbage out, tin and plastic in one bag, real trash in another.In this way it makes it easier for them to retrieve it without having to scratch through some very foul stuff - and easier for them not to make a mess.

---

Alex said
on 23 September 2009

Well i must say i have never stopped them on Tuesday when they go through my trash , i have spokent to them and asked them to clean up afterwards , and guess what they come empty my trash take what they need and place it all back the way it was , i never realised that they are cleaning up our planet , well i take my hats off to them ...

---

Fekile Sibeko said
on 23 September 2009

I always wonderd what they do with that rubbish.thanks lebza for suring the ligth.