Household waste management behaviour amongst residents in an informal settlement in Durban, South Africa

In South Africa, household waste management is a significant challenge in informal settlements, as most of these lack basic waste management infrastructure, and the government's waste management services are limited. This contextual setting brings unique challenges that have not been extensively explored in existing research. Un-derstanding waste management behaviour is therefore critical in addressing underlying challenges and improving waste management practices in such settlements. The purpose of this study was to assess the waste management behaviour among residents of the Shannon Drive informal settlement, in Durban, South Africa. Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour, this study conducted a cross-sectional survey amongst 226 residents at the Shannon Drive informal settlement in Durban, South Africa. The findings suggest that whilst individuals have a positive attitude towards managing their household waste, they believe that it is solely the responsibility of the municipality to manage this in their area, which could have implications for waste management policies and programs. The findings suggest that there is a need for continued education and outreach efforts to promote positive behaviour towards household waste management.

Automated summary

Household waste management is a significant challenge in informal settlements in South Africa due to the lack of infrastructure and limited government services. This study investigated waste management behavior among residents of Shannon Drive informal settlement in Durban, South Africa using the Theory of Planned Behaviour. The findings suggest that while individuals have a positive attitude towards managing their household waste, they believe it is solely the responsibility of the municipality, potentially impacting waste management policies and programs. Continued education and outreach efforts are needed to promote positive behavior in household waste management.