Abstract
This study evaluates the environmental and socio-economic impact of informal waste collectors at the Weltevreden landfill site in the city of Polokwane Municipality. The study included tracking of the waste collection truck in areas in and around the City of Polokwane namely: Ivy Park, Seshego, and Bendor Park. The two methods used for data collection are Quantitative and Qualitative. Questionnaires were conducted with the informal waste collectors on-site alongside as well as Mapping of areas surrounding the Weltevreden landfill area.
The objectives of this study included being able to Identify the method of separation used by the informal waste collectors to separate the waste, To ascertain the impact of the waste collecting on the environment as well as identify who buys their collected waste, to determine the impacts on the livelihoods of the informal waste collectors be able to determine the impacts of the landfill on the waste pickers as well as the broader community and to establish whether the municipality plans to include informal waste collectors in the formal sector.
Figures and tables were used to present the statistical data collected. The results Showed the preferred waste by informal workers, waste collection time in the identified areas, price range per kg, and environmental sensitivity. The city of Polokwane municipality uses landfills as the mode of waste disposal. The Municipality allows companies to access this landfill site to buy waste that was collected by the informal waste collectors, the most preferred type of waste is a form of plastic and if not re-used and recycled it can be harmful to the environment. These informal waste collectors are playing an enormous role in waste and environmental management as they are huge feeders of the recycling industry.
Keywords: Waste management, Informal waste collectors, City of Polokwane, environmental, Landfill, Quantitative, Qualitative, Recycling.