Abstract
D.Phil. (Engineering Management)
Plastic packaged products manufacture continues to increase as a result of the favorable properties possessed by plastic materials. This results in a proportional increase in the amount of Plastic Solid Wastes (PSWs) generated. The concept of Reverse Logistics (RL) is used to recover the PSWs for the purposes of recycling. Numerous studies on RL and recycling have been conducted in developed economies. In developing economies such as in Africa, few studies exist on RL and recycling. This research reveals the research gap and aims to examine the flow of recyclable post-consumer plastic packaged products with the intent of designing a levers’ driven RL model for the Zambian context. The research objectives focus on; studying the current sustainable models used in developed economies for the recovery and recycling of PSWs, to examine the Solid Waste Management (SWM) system in Zambia paying special attention to PSWs management, to ascertain the major stakeholders in the recovery and recycling of PSWs. Consequently, to develop instruments for extracting data relating to significance and the levers. To develop a RL model for Zambia and test the influence of the explored levers. Finally, to recommend strategies that can optimize the recovery and recycling of PSWs from the stakeholders’ perspective.
A pragmatic research approach is considered appropriate for this research. Based on this philosophical stance, concurrent mixed method strategy is conducted. Four types of stakeholders are considered relevant for this research; households, plastic manufacturing and recycling companies; Informal Waste Collectors (IWCs) and Formal Waste Collectors (FWCs). Three types of survey questionnaires are designed and a set of structured interview questions are drawn. A total of 445 questionnaires are distributed to the households, 60 questionnaires to the IWCs and 30 questionnaires to the plastic manufacturing and recycling companies. 20 interviews are considered for the case study. Concurrent triangulation is used to merge the quantitative and qualitative research findings. Descriptive statistics, Factor Analysis (FA) and inference statistics are drawn and used in analyzing the data
Literature review, questionnaire surveys and interviews reveal that, application of RL for the recovery of PSWs for recycling purposes is still at its infancy in Zambia. The flow of PSWs shows that, the 3Rs concept is applied as well as unsustainable disposal methods (burying or burning). Illegal and legal disposal of PSWs exist. The results reveal that 80.2% of the households do not participate in PSWs recovery and recycling programs while 45.5% of the plastic manufacturing and recycling companies recycle PSWs. Majority of PSWs recoveries involve the IWCs and 43% are dump-sites pickers.
The research outlines the key levers and stakeholders to consider when designing and implementing RL for PSWs in Zambia as well as other countries of similar context. Strategies for developing and implementing sustainable recovery and recycling systems for PSWs are provided to the waste convertors, the community, government, policy makers and other parties across the entire supply-chain. Finally, an optimization RL model driven by levers that influence the stakeholders to participate in the recovery and recycling programs is proposed for the plastic manufacturing and recycling industries for...