The influence of waste recovery and organic recycling, at household level, on the waste stream within an urban area in South Africa

Ph.D. (Chemistry)South Africa has a background in which the regulatory system has major limitations, especially with reference to an integrated approach to waste and pollution. The situation has been rectified with the promulgation of new legislation that will approach pollution and waste in an integrated and holistic manner. This new approach also emphasizes that waste should be minimised at all levels, including the household level. The aim of this study has been to determine the influence of waste recovery and organic recycling, at household level, on the waste stream within an urban area in South Africa. The following research aims set for this study were: • To discuss the development of waste minimisation, with specific reference to the South African situation and legislative framework. • To investigate waste recovery and organic recycling as a waste management strategy by reviewing literature. • To investigate a waste recovery and organic recycling strategy within a local transitional council by making use of an empirical study. The most important conclusions gained from reviewing the literature are the following: • South Africa has adopted the Integrated Waste Management Approach, which includes recovery and recycling at source as well as organic recycling. • International case studies, incorporating both developed and developing countries, indicate that organic recycling and waste recovery programmes could be implemented successfully in South Africa with resulting benefits for the communities, service providers and the environment. The aim of the empirical component was to determine the following: • The effect of implementation of organic recycling and waste recovery measures on the waste stream at households level. • The comparative effect of organic recycling and waste recovery rates between a training and non-training group. • The respondent's experiences of the organic recycling