Solid waste management in South Africa: exploring the role of the informal sector in solid waste recycling in Johannesburg

Abstract

Informal solid waste recycling has increasingly become part of the urban landscape in many South African cities and towns. In the city of Johannesburg, for example, waste pickers are now playing an important role in waste management and recycling. There is evidence in the literature that suggests these activities have both economic and environmental benefits thereby contributing towards job creation and environmental sustainability. Despite the role that the informal sector contributes to waste management and socio-economic development, as well as environmental sustainability, the urban development and planning policy in South Africa has not embraced and integrated informal systems of municipal waste management in its policy framework. Drawing on field-based study conducted in selected parts of the City of Johannesburg, and using methods inspired by the traditional participatory research, this study explored the institutional framework within which informal solid waste management can be pursued. One solution to this problem could be the integration of the informal sector recycling into the formal waste management system. To achieve informal sector recycling integration, this study identifies barriers that hinder the integration of the informal sector into an inclusive waste management: repressive policy, lack of evidence to support activity, social acceptance, illegal migrants and lack of valid citizenship documents. It is essential to note that the integration of waste pickers should not be grounded on a ‘universal’ model but should instead take into account local context and conditions.