Abstract
Landfill and street waste pickers in South Africa are responsible for collecting
substantial
volumes of recyclable material, saving municipalities millions and contributing to a generally
healthier and cleaner environment. Yet waste pickers continue to operate on the fringes of the
economy and are exposed to many risks, particularly health risks which have a direct impact on the
sustainability of their livelihoods. This article, using a mixed-methods approach, explores the
health risks to which waste pickers working on nine different landfills in the country are exposed.
The socio-ecological framework was used to analyse and present the results. A key finding was that
waste picking, by its very nature, lends itself to innumerable health risks, but that these can be
lessened through concerted and collaborative efforts on the part of landfill operators, local
authorities and other stakeholders. Integrating the ‘self-employed’ waste pickers into the formal
waste management system should be comprehensive in order to limit health risks. Waste pickers will
never have a risk-free environment, but facilitative policies and supportive institutions can
collaboratively help to mitigate these risks and create a more sustainable and dignified working
environment towards sustaining their livelihoods.