Track: Waste Management

Abstract

The presence of unwanted waste can constitute a threat on a global scale. This is because waste negatively affects human health, wildlife, marine ecosystems and the environment. Plastic wastes pose serious problem to the environment. This burden is evident in South Africa due to lack of plastic waste solutions as about 10% get recycled.  From reliable studies, up to 34.1% of South Africans are subject to open burning, illegal dumping and picking in order to sell plastics to buy back centres. Picking boost the income for poorer communities. The rapidly increasing population has underscored the need for municipalities to provide effective waste management in growing communities. Apart from the increasing need for effective waste management, limited government interventions and legislations can limit waste management. This paper attempts to review the current state of both private and public waste management practices in South Africa. The paper highlights the current initiatives and methods of waste management as well as the gaps in each initiative. The study use literature review and case study approach to analyse the major issues and the effect of growing population on the subsisting waste management system. The results highlight suggestions that promises significant benefits in transforming and improving the existing management practices.