The socio-economic differences between landfill and street waste pickers in the Free State province of South Africa

Waste picking is an important survival strategy of many people throughout the developing world. South Africa has a sizeable waste picker population who ply their trade on municipal landfill sites as well as on the streets of cities and towns. This study lifts the lid on this neglected area of resear...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Development southern Africa (Sandton, South Africa) South Africa), 2016-07, Vol.33 (4), p.532-547
Main Authors: Schenck, Catherina J., Blaauw, Phillip F., Viljoen, Jacoba M.M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cities
Comparative analysis
Employment
Informal economy
Landfill
landfill waste pickers
Local government
Municipalities
Polls & surveys
Poverty
Qualitative research
Questionnaires
recyclable waste
Socioeconomic factors
street waste pickers
Towns
Trade
Waste disposal
Waste management
waste management system
waste picking
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Summary:Waste picking is an important survival strategy of many people throughout the developing world. South Africa has a sizeable waste picker population who ply their trade on municipal landfill sites as well as on the streets of cities and towns. This study lifts the lid on this neglected area of research by analysing and comparing landfill and street waste pickers side by side in a socio-economic context. Samples of waste pickers were drawn from the three main municipalities of Mangaung, Matjhabeng and Metsimaholo in the Free State province of South Africa and a questionnaire-based survey was conducted. Among the findings was that waste picking offers a financial lifeline when, due to inadequate schooling and grinding poverty, individuals would be hard pressed to find employment in the formal economy. The study lays an important foundation for further comparative and qualitative research into this important segment of South Africa's informal economy.
ISSN:0376-835X
1470-3637
DOI:10.1080/0376835X.2016.1179099