Exploring the potential health risks faced by waste pickers on landfills in South Africa: a A socio-ecological perspective

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dc.contributor.authorSchenck, Catherina J
dc.contributor.authorBlaauw, Phillip F
dc.contributor.authorViljoen, Jacoba MM
dc.contributor.authorSwart, Elizabeth C
dc.date.accessioned2020-02-20T12:32:56Z
dc.date.available2020-02-20T12:32:56Z
dc.date.issued2019
dc.description.abstractLandfill and street waste pickers in South Africa are responsible for collecting substantial volumes of recyclable material, saving municipalities millions and contributing to a generally healthier and cleaner environment. Yet waste pickers continue to operate on the fringes of the economy and are exposed to many risks, particularly health risks which have a direct impact on the sustainability of their livelihoods. This article, using a mixed-methods approach, explores the health risks to which waste pickers working on nine different landfills in the country are exposed. The socio-ecological framework was used to analyse and present the results. A key finding was that waste picking, by its very nature, lends itself to innumerable health risks, but that these can be lessened through concerted and collaborative efforts on the part of landfill operators, local authorities and other stakeholders. Integrating the ‘self-employed’ waste pickers into the formal waste management system should be comprehensive in order to limit health risks. Waste pickers will never have a risk-free environment, but facilitative policies and supportive institutions can collaboratively help to mitigate these risks and create a more sustainable and dignified working environment towards sustaining their livelihoods.en_US
dc.identifier.citationSchenck, C. J., Blaauw, P. F., Viljoen, J. M. M., & Swart, E. C. (2019). Exploring the potential health risks faced by waste pickers on landfills in south africa: A socio-ecological perspective. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(11) doi:10.3390/ijerph16112059en_US
dc.identifier.issnDOI: 10.3390/ijerph16112059
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10566/5195
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Healthen_US
dc.subjectWaste pickersen_US
dc.subjectLandfillen_US
dc.subjectLandfill waste pickeren_US
dc.subjectRecyclablesen_US
dc.subjectHealth risksen_US
dc.titleExploring the potential health risks faced by waste pickers on landfills in South Africa: a A socio-ecological perspectiveen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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