Abstract:
Introduction: The study focused on determining the factors influencing waste picking in the City of Mbombela municipality, Republic of South Africa. The study objectives were to assess determinants of waste picking, influence of convenience factors in recycling; and to determine the incentives as stimulants of recycling participation.
Methodology: The data were collected from February to March 2019. A participatory method of data collection was used to determine the factors that influence the engagement of participating waste pickers (WPs) in waste picking activities. Available WPs at three landfill sites, Hazyview, Barberton and Tekwane, and who operated in the streets of Hazyview town, Barberton town and Mbombela (Nelspruit) CBD were recruited. Only WPs willing to participate and sign a consent form were included in the study. The respondents were interviewed using a structured questionnaire and their responses were recorded by the principal researcher and a trained, knowledgeable assistant. A sample size of 149.4 (150) WPs was determined by using Yamane’s (1967) formula. This ideal number was not achieved as 146 WPs participated.
Results and discussion: The study found that age and gender were not determinants of waste picking participation, while a high level of education determined sustainable waste picking practices. Poverty, income need and employment are determinants for waste picking. Aluminium recyclables were desirable by most (53.4%) WPs. Unavailability of recyclables, costs of waste picking, health and safety hazards are factors of inconvenience in recycling, while recyclable accessibility, available markets and good prices are factors of convenience. The distance between waste source and deposit point is a convenience or an inconvenience. Moreover, availability, accessibility of recycling facilities and reliable transportation are factors of convenience. Financial incentives motivated the majority of WPs (81.3% LWPs and 9 0.1% SWPs) to recycle.
Conclusion: As waste picking contributes to poverty alleviation and offers alternative employment to WPs, the industry should be formalized or compensated. The study recommends intervention by authorities to eliminate inconveniences while enhancing convenience factors for growing waste picking in the City of Mbombela. Since the majority WPs rely on financial incentives, it is recommended that maintaining and improving financial incentives, public awareness on other recycling incentives is important.
