Abstract
Reclaimers are essential workers who salvage and recycle materials from landfills, streets, and waste bins in both residential and commercial areas. Despite the important role they play in society, they often face stigma and mistreatment from residents, industry and government. This study focuses on the registration of reclaimers through the South Africa Waste Picker Registration System (SAWPRS), which is driven by the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirement for industries to pay registered reclaimers. This minor dissertation looks at what is termed “Industry 4.0” in the recycling sector, specifically in waste picker integration. Industry 4.0 represents technological transformations that allegedly transform businesses' operations in the coming years. This minor-dissertation aims to determine the effectiveness of employing 4IR payment systems to compensate reclaimers while examining the reclaimers’ and PROs' roles in these initiatives to develop solutions that determine if reclaimers' desired outcomes are included in the integration processes.
This minor dissertation argues that reclaimers in South Africa are active political agents in the decision-making process surrounding the implementation of the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) weight-tracking EPR payment systems. This minor dissertation used two theoretical frameworks: political ecology and actor-network theory, to understand the intricate dynamics of the reclaimer registration and payment. This study used a qualitative approach, facilitating candid and meaningful engagement with stakeholders involved in registration and payment systems, enabling them to share their opinions, analyses, ideas, and factual descriptions through both face-to-face and online interactions. Ethnography, a qualitative research method requiring researchers to immerse themselves in the reclaimers' world, is employed to gain a holistic perspective of the challenges and opportunities inherent in the ongoing transformation of South Africa's recycling industry.
The findings reveal that reclaimers play an active role in making decisions about payment systems and policies in the recycling industry. However, despite their significant role, the existing power dynamics and regulatory framework fail to address collaborative decision-making, impeding the full integration of reclaimers and presenting substantial challenges. The application of political ecology and Actor-Network Theory reveals that structural power imbalances persist despite the
Waste Picker Integration Guideline, necessitating reclaimers to fight to ensure compliance with principles in the Guideline and continue struggling for environmental, social, political, and economic justice. The shift of the African Reclaimer Organisation (ARO) to adopt Kudoti reflects a proactive approach to shaping the decisions surrounding payment systems and policies within the recycling industry. By collaborating with a 4IR company and developing a 4IR tracking system, the ARO has taken a stance against passively accepting or merely negotiating with Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) regarding 4IR systems. This strategic move empowers the reclaimers to actively participate in decision-making processes related to technology and data access, challenging the existing power dynamics and regulatory limitations.
Keywords: Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), Reclaimers, Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs), Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Political Ecology, Actor-Network Theory, Waste Picker Integration, South African Waste Picker Registration System (SAWPRS)