Identifying the causes of widespread illegal dumping in buffalo city metropolitan municipality and innovative waste management mechanisms

South Africa faces the daily challenge of illegal dumping and authorities cannot seem to contain the problem. This is particularly the case in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) as the same non-effective means of curbing illegal dumping is attempted again and again. This study sought to gain insight into why residents would illegally dump waste near their homes considering the numerous negative health and environmental consequences. While many studies have focused on the quantitative aspects of waste management and illegal dumping, none have been conducted in the Eastern Cape or BCMM or enquired as to how citizens felt about the phenomena. This research utilised in-depth semi-structured interviews to gain insight into the problem of illegal dumping through the lenses of both residents and BCMM staff members. One of the key themes within the findings of the study is the apathetic nature of citizens towards their environment. There are also two predominant ways illegal dumping sites form. The first is through ‘Systemic Dumping’ which arises through the lack of waste infrastructure in low income communities and the second is ‘Ad-hoc Illegal Dumping’ which form when BCMM does not provide a timely waste management service

Identifying the causes of widespread illegal dumping in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality and innovative waste management mechanism

South Africa faces the daily challenge of illegal dumping and authorities cannot seem to contain the problem. This is particularly the case in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) as the same non-effective means of curbing illegal dumping is attempted again and again. This study sought to gain insight into why residents would illegally dump waste near their homes considering the numerous negative health and environmental consequences. While many studies have focused on the quantitative aspects of waste management and illegal dumping, none have been conducted in the Eastern Cape or BCMM or enquired as to how citizens felt about the phenomena. This research utilised in-depth semi-structured interviews to gain insight into the problem of illegal dumping through the lenses of both residents and BCMM staff members. One of the key themes within the findings of the study is the apathetic nature of citizens towards their environment. There are also two predominant ways illegal dumping sites form. The first is through ‘Systemic Dumping’ which arises through the lack of waste infrastructure in low income communities and the second is ‘Ad-hoc Illegal Dumping’which form when BCMM does not provide a timely waste management service

Identifying the causes of widespread illegal dumping in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality and innovative waste management mechanism

South Africa faces the daily challenge of illegal dumping and authorities cannot seem to contain the problem. This is particularly the case in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) as the same non-effective means of curbing illegal dumping is attempted again and again. This study sought to gain insight into why residents would illegally dump waste near their homes considering the numerous negative health and environmental consequences. While many studies have focused on the quantitative aspects of waste management and illegal dumping, none have been conducted in the Eastern Cape or BCMM or enquired as to how citizens felt about the phenomena. This research utilised in-depth semi-structured interviews to gain insight into the problem of illegal dumping through the lenses of both residents and BCMM staff members. One of the key themes within the findings of the study is the apathetic nature of citizens towards their environment. There are also two predominant ways illegal dumping sites form. The first is through ‘Systemic Dumping’ which arises through the lack of waste infrastructure in low income communities and the second is ‘Ad-hoc Illegal Dumping’which form when BCMM does not provide a timely waste management service

Identifying the causes of widespread illegal dumping in buffalo city metropolitan municipality and innovative waste management mechanisms

South Africa faces the daily challenge of illegal dumping and authorities cannot seem to contain the problem. This is particularly the case in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) as the same non-effective means of curbing illegal dumping is attempted again and again. This study sought to gain insight into why residents would illegally dump waste near their homes considering the numerous negative health and environmental consequences. While many studies have focused on the quantitative aspects of waste management and illegal dumping, none have been conducted in the Eastern Cape or BCMM or enquired as to how citizens felt about the phenomena. This research utilised in-depth semi-structured interviews to gain insight into the problem of illegal dumping through the lenses of both residents and BCMM staff members. One of the key themes within the findings of the study is the apathetic nature of citizens towards their environment. There are also two predominant ways illegal dumping sites form. The first is through ‘Systemic Dumping’ which arises through the lack of waste infrastructure in low income communities and the second is ‘Ad-hoc Illegal Dumping’ which form when BCMM does not provide a timely waste management service