Abstract
M.Sc. (Environmental Management)
The City of Johannesburg (CoJ) faces a number of challenges that includes the increase in solid waste generation rates due to the increase of the population in the city. The CoJ also have the problem of finding additional space for more landfill sites as existing landfill sites only have a limited lifespan remaining. Recycling of waste is one option that can be considered to improve solid waste management and hence improve waste management practises. South Africa aims to have all households to recycle their domestic waste by 2016. The key to achieve the household recycling targets is to increase the participation of households to recycle the domestic waste they produce. Knowing which personal or household attributes are associated with high/low recycling behaviour can assist in designing programs to encourage higher participation. Socio-economic characteristics of households were identified as the aspects that can influence an individual’s decision to engage in recycling activities. This main objective of this dissertation is to investigate the recycling behaviour of different socio-economic groups in the CoJ. The key to achieve the aim of this study is to determine factors that encourages or constrains households’ participation in recycling. Specific focus is placed on households of learners attending three selected schools within the CoJ, namely Hoërskool Vorentoe, Helpmekaar Kollege and Trinityhouse High School. These schools were selected as a result of the socio-economic characteristics of their surrounding feeder suburbs. Vorentoe Hoёrskool was classified as low to middle income with Trinity House and Helpmekaar High Schools as middle to high income. Research questionnaires were used for the purpose of this study. The questionnaires were distributed to learners who were requested to have their parents complete it. Results from this study often differed from previous studies on socio-economic factors and recycling in that it is demonstrated by this research that socio-economic factors do not have a material effect on the level of recycling. This study also illustrates that there is a clear willingness to participate in recycling. However, more information and education is needed in order for this willingness to be realised. This study has clearly shown that by implementing certain measures and providing information may possibly increase household recycling rates in the CoJ. Very specific strategies needs to be employed by local authorities’ to increase household recycling rates in the CoJ.