Determinants of households’ involvement in waste separation and collection for recycling in South Africa

Abstract

Urbanization and industrial development in many developing countries have brought along significant problem of waste management and other environmental concerns. Recycling is a veritable option already identified in the South Africa’s Waste Act of 2008 as a way of reducing negative externalities that are associated with waste accumulation and its improper disposal. This study analysed the factors influencing households’ involvement in waste separation/collection for recycling in South Africa within the modified framework of the Theory of Planned Behaviour. The data were the General Household Survey of 2014, which were analysed with descriptive statistics and two-stage probit regression. The results showed that waste bins that were provided by municipalities were used for waste disposal by 43.36% of urban households as compared to 1.54% for those from rural households. More than half of rural households had no means of storing wastes, while payment for disposal was reported by 58.95% of urban households. Also, 8.13% of all households separated wastes for recycling, but urban households had higher involvement with 11.18%. The main reasons for not recycling among urban and rural households were disposal into available bins (68.50%) and notion that it is not important (52.19%), respectively. The two-stage probit regression results showed that monthly income, being married, race (white, Indian, coloured), paying and willing to pay for waste disposal, existence of waste recycling programmes and facilities positively and statistical significantly (p < 0.10) influenced recycling, while perception of financial benefits and perception of the importance of recycling reduced it. It was concluded that initiatives to resuscitate recycling behaviours should focus on creation of proper awareness, attitudinal change and ensuring availability of recycling facilities, among others.