Spinning Out of Control

Key Takeaways

• The author, a former waste tyre collector, expresses frustration and disappointment with the current state of waste tyre management in South Africa.
• The government’s decision to shut down the successful Redisa program in 2017 has led to a significant decline in waste tyre recycling and job losses.
• The current system under the Waste Bureau has failed to provide effective solutions, resulting in tyres piling up in communities and contributing to environmental and health problems.
• The author calls for a return to a system that worked, which created jobs and helped the environment, and highlights the need for the government to take action to address the waste tyre problem.

Introduction to the Issue
The recent G20 and COP30 meetings in Johannesburg have brought attention to the topics of green jobs, waste management, and the environment. However, for many communities in South Africa, these issues are not just talking points, but a harsh reality. The author, a former waste tyre collector, shares her personal experience of working for the Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa (Redisa) and the impact of the program’s shutdown on her community. The contrast between the ministers and officials attending these meetings, driving in big cars with new tyres, and the reality of tyres piling up in fields and burning at night, filling the air with poisonous smoke, is stark.

The Redisa Program and Its Impact
The Redisa program was a successful initiative that provided jobs and skills training to people, mostly women, in the author’s community. The program collected waste tyres from garages and dumps, shredded, reused, or disposed of them correctly, and helped to clean the environment. The author was proud to be part of this program, which allowed her to feed her children and grandchildren, buy food, and pay for school uniforms. The program was not only beneficial for the environment, but it also gave people a sense of purpose and hope for a better future. The fact that most of the employees were women, including pensioners, highlights the program’s commitment to providing opportunities for those who might otherwise be marginalized.

The Shutdown of Redisa and Its Consequences
In 2017, the government shut down the Redisa program, citing problems that were later found to be untrue. The courts ultimately ruled that the shutdown was unjustified, but by then, the damage had been done. The program’s closure led to job losses, and the depots began to overflow with tyres. The work was handed over to the Waste Bureau under the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, but the new system has failed to provide effective solutions. The author and her community have been left without jobs, and the tyres have started piling up again, contributing to environmental and health problems.

The Current State of Waste Tyre Management
The current system under the Waste Bureau has failed to address the waste tyre problem. In the author’s area, only three micro-collectors have occasional contracts, compared to the 33 who had full-time, meaningful work under the Redisa program. The lack of transparency and communication from the Waste Bureau has left the community in the dark about the new system and who is benefiting from the contracts. The author suspects that those with contracts now are politically connected, highlighting the need for a more equitable and transparent system. The consequences of the failed system are dire, with tyres burning in the streets and open fields, causing air pollution and health problems.

The Need for a Solution
The author emphasizes that waste tyre recycling is not complicated and can create thousands of jobs if the right system is put in place. The Redisa program had already demonstrated its effectiveness, and its closure has had devastating consequences. The author calls for a return to a system that worked, which created jobs and helped the environment. The government needs to take action to address the waste tyre problem, which is not only an environmental issue but also a social and economic one. The author and her community are not asking for miracles, just a chance to work and contribute to a system that benefits everyone.

Conclusion and Call to Action
The author’s story highlights the human impact of the government’s decisions and the need for effective waste management systems. The waste tyre problem in South Africa is a complex issue that requires a comprehensive solution. The government needs to prioritize the creation of jobs, the protection of the environment, and the well-being of communities. The author’s call for a return to a system that worked is a reminder that sometimes, the simplest solutions are the most effective. It is time for the government to take action and address the waste tyre problem, not just for the sake of the environment, but for the people who are suffering as a result of its inaction.