Solidarity and recycling work by mothers becomes sustainable

A sustainable waste recycling process has enabled ongoing income for women while children are cared for and they gain solidarity from each other.

Many women in low-income families are illiterate and struggle to participate in the labor market.

The Omama Bemvelo meaning ‘mothers of nature’ project in Kwazulu/Natal province of South Africa was set up to encourage temporary employment at a crucial time where mothers were struggling to find or losing jobs due to COVID-19. The project also sought to overcome the challenge of waste being left in landfills and illegal dumping sites due to the constraints of multiple lockdowns during COVID-19.

Women empowering each other to generate income and provide a network of unity and support.

With the support of a Solidarity Grant, Nomfundo Mkhaba set up the project to initially employ 10 mothers who would find illegal dumpsites, collect waste and separate it into different categories, e.g., plastic to sell to outlets. However, the project went on to successfully employ 49 mothers. The women collected 18,000 bags full of waste in Malundi township and identified 16 major illegal dumpsites. It managed to get formal recognition as a vendor from Mpact, the largest paper and plastics packaging business and recycler in Africa, which provided them with 25 collection bags. This meant they could sell their recyclables directly without a middle-person’s brokerage fee. PETCO, which supports the creation of recycling businesses, provided them with four 10-ton bags for storing graded plastics.

Other mothers in the initiative took responsibility for the children of those gathering and recycling waste. They also did home visits to assess the mothers’ living conditions and identified resources to support them. For instance, they persuaded local tuckshop owners to provide refreshments for the mothers, and arranged for four mothers to receive food hampers, two to receive diapers, and one baby to receive formula. Local Tuckshops and taverns agreed to supply their waste and a few agreed to store the group’s recyclables. The bottling factory Console agreed to take 30 tons of separated glass bottles. The group has also identified craft makers who use recyclables to make crafts.

In recognition of the impact of the project, fellow Nomfundo was awarded as one of the 100 shining stars in South Africa.

The Omama Bemvelo project has:

• Become self-sustaining and employed 49 mothers and created wider employment opportunities. For example, the project got Independent Development Trust to contract two teenagers to clean their offices and the uMngeni water contracted four teenagers to clean during their cultural event.
• Gained recognition as a formal vendor from Mpact, the largest paper and plastics packaging business and recycler in Africa, and as a result removed the brokerage fee.
• Through the network of women, created a source of solidarity and support where they advocated for additional support. For instance, gaining access to food hampers and nappies.
• The group has also been therapeutic in nature, an outlet where the women can have conversations about any challenges they are facing.
• As a collective group, the women have built their confidence and and begun to advocate for public childcare provision. They have recognized the most prominent factor influencing inequities in the labor market is childcare responsibilities and are therefore advocating for high-quality public childcare support.

Since the project has gained vendor status, it will be self-sustaining and sales will be made and paid within a seven-day period. The project has also established relationships with local tuckshops and taverns who will supply and store recyclables for the women generating ongoing income.