Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa launched the R30-million Gauteng Youth Jobs in Waste Programme in Mohlakeng, Randfontein, on Thursday.
 
This is in line with the Minister’s commitment to launching projects that will contribute to overcoming the country’s waste challenge, as well as youth unemployment.
 
“The Gauteng Youth Jobs in Waste Programme has employed 492 youths. This comprises 271 young ladies, 211 young men and ten youth living with disabilities,” she said.

The programme has created over 4 000 job opportunities across the country since its launch in 2013.
 
The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) has funded numerous projects within the Randfontein municipality which are being implemented using labour-intensive methods as per the requirements of Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), with a special look towards 58% of women employment, 65% youth and 2% being disabled people.
 
Molewa pointed out that the waste sector has been identified as a key role-player in achieving the goal of economic upliftment through job creation, as government works towards reaching the National Development Plan’s goal of creating an environmentally sustainable, climate change-resilient, low-carbon economy and a just society by 2030.
 
The DEA is also implementing a Working on Waste (WoW) sub-programme under the auspices of the EPWP, which seeks to address the problem of growing volumes of waste and backlogs in the provision of waste services in urban-informal areas, tribal areas and rural formal areas.
  
The projects have contributed to the support of small business enterprises, which have been used in services such as the provision of protective clothing, construction materials, equipment and catering.
 
Eighty-five projects have been implemented nationwide to support local government through the installation and construction of numerous waste sorting, composting and recovery facilities as a means of redirecting waste from landfill sites. 
 
“Despite a total estimated value of R25-billion to the South African economy, the current rate of waste recycling has not increased, which means that its full potential has not been realised,” said Molewa.
 
She noted that to grow this important economic sector, government has identified an additional 34 Working on Waste projects and has committed R420.8-million to their development for the 2016/17 to 2018/19 financial years.