Abstract
Effective management of waste and the promotion and management of recycling
activities are necessary for sustainable and liveable cities. A key but unrecognised
element in promoting recycling is the efforts of waste pickers who make a living from
recycling mainline recyclables. This article aims to describe the approaches used on
ten landfills in South Africa to manage waste pickers’ access to recyclables and their
daily activities on the landfills. A multiple case study design and cross-case analysis
were used in this study. The sustainable livelihoods framework (SLF) was used to
analyse and explain the data. The results showed that waste management policies
and practices directly influence the waste pickers’ access to recyclable waste and their
livelihoods. Finally, some inclusionary and exclusionary practices are highlighted that
could guide inclusive, participatory and co-productive practices for waste pickers in
South Africa towards increased recognition, access, dignity and income.