Assessment of participants’ attitude towards organic waste separation at source in Alexandra Township, Johannesburg

Abstract

Growth in urbanisation, economic expansion, and human population has led to the production of large quantities of municipal waste, which is predominantly organic. This study investigated the factors influencing attitudes towards source separation of organic waste in Alexandra Township, Johannesburg, South Africa. A total of 104 randomly selected participants participated in this study. Data analysis was done using structural equation modelling. The findings indicate that although residents demonstrate a high level of environmental awareness, positive attitudes towards waste separation are limited primarily by low institutional trust and significant situational barriers. These barriers include the absence of specialised pest-proof containers, limited household space, and infrequent municipal waste collection. The study underscores the need for offering tangible incentives for participation in waste separation and establishing appropriate infrastructure for organic waste separation at the source.