There are a wide range of recycling initiatives taking place in the Durban Metropolitan Area (DMA). Recycling on a large scale, without the assistance of a subsidy, is only sustainable if it is economically viable. Markets need to exist to buy the recyclables and to resell the recycled products produced.

In a study undertaken to determine the level of domestic recycling in the DMA it was found that low income groups practised recycling as a means of job creation and generation of income. Low to middle income groups displayed complacency and many lacked any interest in recycling. The middle to upper income groups practised recycling out of concern for the environment and as part of fund-raising efforts. It was also found that provision of additional accessible collection centres, as well as information and education programmes help promote recycling.

Recyclables removed from landfill sites
Informal recycling takes place on many landfill sites through the activities of waste pickers. This is the sole source of income for many people, but poses a potential health and safety risk to those concerned. At the Bisasar Road landfill site, over R66 000 worth of recyclables (totalling about 260 000 kilograms), are retrieved each month by between 300- 400 waste pickers. This represents 0.5% of the total waste stream disposed of at the site. It is estimated that these pickers represent in the region of 200 families who earn a total of R300 a month per family.

Insert graphic of pickers

Scavenging is only permitted at Bisasar Road site from 16h30 daily after operations on the site have ceased. Attempts by the health authorities to stop the activity because of the health risk, the need to leave sections of the site uncovered, complaints and threat of closure of the site by formal residents of the area, have met with great opposition from the pickers.

Central Business District Cardboard Collectors
Over 200 collectors, many of whom are members of the Self Employed Women's Union, collect cardboard from formal businesses in the Durban CBD and sell it to recyclers. A private sector business, supported by Durban Solid Waste, has been approached to examine the feasibility of setting up a buy-back centre in Warwick Avenue which is located in the main transportation hub adjacent to the main CBD.

Buy-back Centres
Multi-material buy-back centres are in operation in the Durban area, run by various private recycling companies (Sappi and Mondi), with the support of Durban Solid Waste. These centres attract informal collectors of recyclables who sell their items to the centres for a better price than is being paid by agents of formal recycling companies.

Studies on the viability of the buy-back centres indicate that R 5 000 per month can be generated at each centre, if run competently. This is calculated to provide R 30 to R 50 per collector per day. The balance of the monies from the recyclables sold is used to pay an entrepreneur to run the centre. Funders of these centres are keen to set up other such centres but suitable premises still need to be obtained. It is important that these centres are placed in areas which are easily accessible to those involved in the operation, where many formal businesses exist, and where there are high traffic levels of people.

Recycling in schools and with fundraising organisations
Recycling collection schemes are popular as a means of fund raising for schools and non governmental organisations (NGOs). These schemes work well when supported by a competition with the recycler offering extra funding for those collecting over a certain amount of materials. They are successful because wage costs are minimal, rather than because of the amount paid by the recycling companies for the materials collected.

Bottle and paper banks
Paper, cans, plastic and glass recycling companies have had mixed success with collection depots on public land and verges in the DMA. Problems include difficulty in controlling what goes into these containers, littering and people scavenging out of these facilities because there is monetary value attached to the contents. These containers are usually 'owned' by charities for fund raising purposes, and the trend now is to house them in school grounds, while offering the school a percentage of the profits gained from the contents. In this way the charity benefits from increased security and the input from the schools, and the schools benefit from the money.

Recycling facilities at Durban Solid Waste garden refuse sites
Collection containers for glass, paper, cans and plastic are available for the public at DSW garden refuse sites in the north and south central areas. These are cleared by the recyclers on demand. A well laid-out collection centre is scheduled to be developed at the proposed new Bellair Garden Refuse site, at which it is also hoped to introduce oil collection for recycling.

Recycling in business and industries
Companies recycle and minimise waste when it benefits their bottom line. By reducing the amount of waste they produce, they pay less for waste disposal. This has prompted a number of organisations to recycle paper, glass, plastics and cans. Since the closure of the Umlazi IV low hazard landfill site and the subsequent increase in disposal costs, a number of industries have begun recycling their low hazardous wastes. Durban Solid Waste has developed good relationships with organisations which offer waste minimisation and recycling services to companies. An example of this is the International Conference and Convention Centre which has an aggressive waste minimisation and recycling programme undertaken by a contractor who works closely with DSW. With waste minimisation and recycling becoming a feature of national government policy it is anticipated that the role played by DSW will be of increasing importance.

Large scale composting
A successful and highly competitive composting operation near Cato Ridge uses abattoir wastes and chicken litter to produce high quality compost very competitively. Few rival composting operations have been able to compete with this manufacturer which has been in business for many years. Although the idea of composting has not been dismissed and is under discussion at present, it is recognised that the composting of municipal waste produces an inferior compost because of the presence of pieces of glass, plastic, etc. which is unattractive to the market place. Home composting is to be encouraged.