After a fire shut down the Marie Louise landfill, over 150 waste pickers have been left without work. A food parcel handover is now helping families get through the gap.
Johannesburg, South Africa (12 December 2025) – For the past two months, life has been especially tough for the reclaimers who rely on the Marie Louise Landfill for their daily income.
After a major fire forced the site to close to general waste while restoration work continues, reclaimers were suddenly left without access to recyclables and without a way to earn. For many families living below the breadline, that loss of income has been severe.
This week, some much-needed relief arrived.
The EPR Waste Association of South Africa (eWASA) stepped in to support 153 reclaimers and their families by handing out food parcels filled with essential groceries and hygiene items. The initiative followed an urgent appeal from the African Reclaimers Organisation (ARO), which has been supporting waste pickers affected by the closure.
Each food parcel will sustain a household for about a month and includes staples such as maize meal, rice, cooking oil, pilchards, soap and other basic necessities. These are simple items that make a meaningful difference when there’s no income coming in.
Reclaimers play a critical role in South Africa’s waste and recycling system, often working in difficult and overlooked conditions to recover materials that would otherwise end up in landfill. They are recycling heroes. When disruptions like this happen, they are usually the first and hardest hit.
“At eWASA, we believe in fostering resilient communities by uplifting those most affected by disruptions in our waste management systems,” said Keith Anderson, CEO of eWASA. “By partnering with organizations like ARO, we enhance the wellbeing of the unsung heroes of recycling and extend our commitment beyond environmental protection to direct social impact.”
According to ARO, eWASA is (at the time of writing) the only producer responsibility organisation that has responded to the call for help.
The handover brought great relief to families who’ve been under unimaginable pressure, leaving behind full tummies, grateful hearts and a reminder that they haven’t been forgotten.
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