The knowledge, attitudes and practices of residents regarding household waste management in Eerste River, Cape Town: The implications for health and environmental sustainability

Kassiem, Iman

The knowledge, attitudes and practices of residents regarding household waste management in Eerste River, Cape Town: The implications for health and environmental sustainability

Thesis / Dissertation

2024

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Department of Public Health and Family Medicine

Faculty

Faculty of Health Sciences

Abstract

In lower income communities within South Africa, improper household waste management remains a significant public health concern. Activities such as illegal dumping and the lack of recycling may result in deleterious health and environmental impacts. Hence, it is important that residents understand their role and responsibilities in improving waste management to promote good health and environmental sustainability. This study therefore aimed to determine the waste management knowledge, attitudes and practices of 152 residents within Eerste River, Cape Town. Using a cross-sectional study design, face-to-face administrated questionnaires were employed to residents in free-standing homes (n=132), apartments (n=9) and backyard shacks (n=9) over a four-week period in September 2023. Results indicated that more than 80% of respondents were aware of the negative health and environmental impacts posed by illegal dumping. Furthermore, 52.7% of participants do not believe that the municipality has effective waste management systems in place. However, 90.8% of participants believe that incentives would encourage individuals to better manage their household waste. Moreover, more than 50% of respondents reportedly dispose of waste through black bags and pick-up truck services, with only 27% separating their waste before disposal. Residents in this study are willing to change their waste management practices, provided that barriers such as inadequate service delivery and insufficient awareness regarding recycling are addressed. In this regard, waste management, health and environmental sustainability within communities such as Eerste River could be improved and preserved.