Survey Carried Out in Cosmo City, South Africa, about Recycling Practices and Local Community Perceptions on Waste Management Practices | Insight Medical Publishing

The study took place at Cosmo City, which integrates the low, middle, and high income communities to live together and share common social resources. About 404 households were selected to participate in this study, based on their income levels structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The specific objectives were to establish the relationship between perceptions of recycling by households and recycling of waste by waste pickers. The findings indicated that most households in favour of incorporation of waste pickers into the waste management system were those who indicated that they we not recycling waste at all. Majority of households who indicated that they were not recycling waste did not support provision of basic salary for waste pickers. Most of the households who indicated that they were not recycling waste indicated that they believe waste pickers activity creates jobs. Regulation of waste pickers was supported mainly by households who indicated that they were not recycling waste. Since most households were not recycling waste, it is not amazing that their opinion influenced the decisions in all four categories. Since recycling of waste by waste pickers creates jobs, it can help alleviate poverty and with support and proper regulation by municipalities can help in achieving sustainable development goals 2030.