article · South African Geographical Journal
Rapid population growth driven by rural-to-urban migration has increased municipal solid waste generation, creating severe environmental challenges in South African low-income areas. An investigation into the township of Alexandra in Johannesburg reveals that solid waste is not reliably collected or transported, primarily due to shortages of necessary equipment and resources for treatment. Addressing these failures requires municipal public awareness campaigns to encourage active community participation. Sorting waste into biodegradable and non-biodegradable categories allows valuable materials to reach local government recycling centres. Furthermore, engaging unemployed and homeless individuals directly in waste collection and recycling operations addresses municipal staffing shortages while generating vital local employment. Adopting this pro-poor strategy provides a practical framework for delivering sustainable solid waste management in urban communities.
Inadequate waste collection poses severe environmental and public health threats in rapidly growing low-income urban areas. Establishing reliable sorting, recycling, and collection routines keeps townships cleaner while directly tackling joblessness. Integrating informal workers and low-income residents into municipal waste systems transforms an environmental burden into a sustainable, community-wide opportunity for employment and resource recovery.
The findings highlight operational models for municipal authorities, recycling operators, and community enterprises seeking to set up local recycling centres and collection schemes. While the research demonstrates early-stage policy and operational analysis rather than a ready-to-market product, it outlines practical frameworks for sorting biodegradable goods and deploying labour. Real-world application depends on local government investment in treatment equipment and formal partnerships with informal workers.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Solid waste constitutes one of the most pressing environmental problems, requiring urgent action from urban managers to find appropriate management mechanisms. The rapid increase in municipal solid waste generation is undoubtedly due to the accelerated population growth rate triggered by massive rural-to-urban migration. This paper analyses solid waste management challenges in low-income communities in South Africa, using a case study from Alexandra, Johannesburg. Using qualitative and quantitative research approaches, findings revealed that solid waste is not reliably collected and transported in low-income communities in South Africa. The main obstacles include the scarcity of resources and equipment necessary for waste treatment. To widely involve residents of Alexandra Township in the waste management process, the municipal council should embark on a public awareness campaign. The findings further encourage effective waste sorting techniques, such as separating biodegradable from non-biodegradable waste, so that valuable goods can be taken to the local government recycling centre. The results further encourage the involvement of the homeless and unemployed in the recycling and waste management process, thereby reducing the shortage of human resources and creating jobs. These issues are analysed within the context of evolving arguments that focus on developing a pro-poor approach in solid waste management that may present an opportunity for achieving sustainable solid waste management in Johannesburg, South Africa.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.1080/03736245.2024.2356563
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
