Abstract
Municipalities in the Republic of South African (RSA) are facing ever-increasing challenges of waste collection backlogs resulting in frequent public protests, illegal dumping, and pollution of the environment with adverse effects on human health. The public protests relating to waste collection backlogs are an everyday phenomenon and upset social stability in most municipalities. The study seeks to recommend a new waste collection model for the Mogale City Local Municipality (MCLM). Such a waste collection model is expected to yield positive results and resolve these backlogs, reducing public protests and social disorder.
The objectives of this study were to assess the waste collection models in MCLM, review the waste collection systems to reduce waste collection disruptions and recommend a new system for MCLM. Data were collected using a mixed-method approach with purposive sampling tools deploying well-designed questionnaires, which were analysed using STATKON tools and guidelines. The data collection process was conducted within MCLM wards, serviced by the internal municipal waste collection system, large shopping centres and municipal waste officers.
The estimated number of households in MCLM is estimated at 117 313. The study’s population size of 86 participants consisted of 22 councillors, 51 shopping centres and residential complexes managers, and 13 municipal waste officers, all of whom were willing to share their experiences and views about the municipal waste collection model. The findings of this study provided information about the waste collection challenges to aid and enable conclusions that would be made later to recommend a new waste collection model for MCLM. On completion of the study, recommendations were presented to MCLM and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA). The research outcome was further made available to participants, the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD), the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).