Johannesburg recycling schemes happen out of utility rather than environ-mental concerns, reports Johan Nilsson, from South Africa.
When driving along the roads in Johannesburg (a common activity in a very car-oriented society, with great highways intersecting the many municipalities that form Joburg) one cannot miss the refuse collectors walking along the roadside (“pavement” in the local lingo) dragging carts filled with plastics, even asking passing drivers for their PET-bottles, and Styrofoam cartons. This happens because even if most people do not think about it that way, refuse is a resource.
If other markets have cash-back schemes, or refunds to recollect plastics and metals in containers meant for day-to-day consumption, South Africa does not. In fact, separation of refuse is something that a sustainability oriented consumer must pay extra for, or something that is done by companies as part of environmental policies. Rather than instating separation from above, it happens from below. If a resource is available, some people will utilize it. In this case freelance collectors take on the job of separating plastics from paper, metals from glass. Refuse around the world is not only a great environmental problem, it also forms a vital resource for those willing to get their hands dirty.
During January and February, United Minds conducted consumer research in South Africa, Ghana and Tanzania. For more information about the trip and United Minds' ethnographic offering, contact analyst Johan Nilsson.
