Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Informal Recycling Sector Assessment'

End of Life Vehicles (ELVs) can act as a source of secondary raw materials at the same time can pose a severe threat to our ecosystem if the ELVs are handled unscientifically. Globally, abundant research is being carried out on obsolete vehicles to harness energy and to reduce negative impacts on the environment. India, characterized by an informal ELV handling sector has achieved material recovery and recycling efficiency up to some extent but lacks in the incorporation of eco-friendly management of ELVs, and this issue needs to be addressed along with the problems of social and economic sustainability of the firm. The research work is intended to study the prevailing status of ELV handling in India. The current situation is represented by comparing ELV handling capacities of various firms and future ELVs. Also, an assessment of shared responsibility of critical stakeholders is depicted using a radar chart, and relative importance of their involvement is represented. Research also presents a comparative study of ELV legislative policies of different countries. Linear regression is applied to predict the values of ELVs in major Indian cities. Suitable methodologies are employed to collect the required data, and the findings are discussed using illustrative graphs and tables.

The aim of this thesis was to study governance aspects of informal electronic waste recycling and to provide better knowledge of the business in terms of structure, stakeholders, governance aspects and social impacts. The thesis consists of a cover essay and two papers appended at the end of the thesis. The cover essay summarizes the papers and puts them in context. The objective of Paper I is to study the business of informal electronic waste recycling in Pakistan and highlight its governance issues. Paper II assesses the social impacts of this business using UNEP-SETAC Guidelines. The thesis examines these specific questions: Q1) What is the current situation of informal e-waste recycling in Pakistan? Q2) Who are the important stakeholders and what are their roles in this business? Q3) What are the governance issues enabling this informal business? Q4) What are the social impacts for individuals and society arising from this business? Paper I presents the international and local e-waste flows, business structure, the stakeholders involved and the existing governance issues of the business. It shows weak enforcement of legislation, the complexities emerging with numerous stakeholders, the profitability of informal recycling, little concern for the health damaging exposure for workers from poorest and most vulnerable people in society, and the lack of awareness of the hazards involved results in several governance issues. The paper also highlights how this business lacks characteristics of good governance, which makes it a challenge to control this business. Paper II assesses the social impacts of informal e-waste recycling in Pakistan using UNEP/SETAC guidelines for conducting a Social Lifecycle Analysis (SLCA). It showed that this business has positive impacts relating to societal issues and individual/family economics, and in the economic development of Pakistan but otherwise most impacts were negative. The findings of Paper II fill an important data gap and can be integrated with data on other stages of ICT product lifecycle to produce a full SLCA of such products.
Syftet med denna avhandling var att studera styrningsaspekter informella återvinning elektroniskt avfall och för att ge bättre kunskap om verksamheten i fråga om struktur, intressenter, styrningsaspekter och sociala konsekvenser. Avhandlingen består av en täck uppsats och två tidningar bifogade i slutet av uppsatsen. Locket uppsats samman tidningarna och sätter dem i sitt sammanhang. Syftet med papper I är att studera verksamheten i informella återvinning elektroniskt avfall i Pakistan och belysa dess styrningsfrågor. Papper II bedömer de sociala konsekvenserna av denna verksamhet med hjälp av UNEP-SETAC riktlinjer. Avhandlingen undersöker dessa specifika frågor: Q1) Vad är den nuvarande situationen för informella återvinnings e-avfall i Pakistan? Q2) Vilka är de viktigaste intressenterna och vilka är deras roller i den här branschen? Q3) Vilka styrningsfrågor som möjliggör denna informella företag? Q4) Vilka är de sociala konsekvenserna för enskilda och samhället som följer av detta företag? Papper I presenterar internationella och lokala e-avfallsflöden, företagsstruktur, de inblandade aktörerna och de befintliga styrningsfrågor i verksamheten. Det visar en svag tillämpning av lagstiftningen, komplexiteten växande med många intressenter, lönsamheten för informella återvinning, lite oro för hälsan skadliga exponering för arbetstagare från de fattigaste och mest utsatta människorna i samhället, och bristen på medvetenhet om de risker inblandade resultaten i flera styrningsfrågor. Papperet belyser också hur denna verksamhet saknar egenskaper för god förvaltning, vilket gör det till en utmaning att styra denna verksamhet. Papper II bedömer de sociala konsekvenserna av informella återvinnings e-avfall i Pakistan använder UNEP / SETAC riktlinjer för att genomföra en social livscykelanalys (SLCA). Det visade sig att denna verksamhet har positiva effekter avseende samhällsfrågor och individ / familj ekonomi, och i den ekonomiska utvecklingen i Pakistan men annars de flesta effekterna var negativa. Resultaten av pappers II fyller ett viktigt tomrum uppgifter och kan integreras med uppgifter om andra stadier av IKT produktlivscykeln för att producera en full SLCA av sådana produkter.

QC 20150525

It has been recognised that the informal E-waste recycling may pose a risk to human health and the environment, this study aims to evaluate the e-waste contamination and the environmental and human health impact of informal e-waste recycling on the exposed population using the risk assessment framework. The distribution of a number of heavy metals in soil from an informal recycling site in the largest market for used and new electronics and electrical equipment in West Africa was investigated. The extent of pollution, potential bioavailability of heavy metals, potential risk due to the recycling activities and impact of external factors such as rainfall were assessed. In recent times, bioaccessibility has emerged as a testing tool used to accurately estimate the risk posed on human health by exposure to environmental contaminants, the oral bioaccessibility and inhalation bioaccessibility was also assessed. The concentrations of all the identified metals in the recycling site were consistently higher than values obtained from the control site, suggesting the impact of the recycling activities on the soil. The order of total metal concentration was Cu > Pb > Zn > Mn > Ni > Sb > Cr > Cd for both the dry and wet season. The total concentration of Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni and Zn where was significantly higher (p≤0.001) in the dry season than in the wet season. The concentrations of Cu (329-7106 mg kg-1), Pb (115-9623 mg kg-1) and Zn (508-8178 mg kg-1) were consistently higher than the international soil guideline values. Using a sequential extraction method, the potential bioavailability of the metals was indicated as Cd > Sb > Zn > Cu > Ni > Pb > Cr, suggesting Cd was the most potentially available. Assessing the risk using the Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI), Cu was found to contribute the most to the potential ecological risk and Cd the greatest concern due to its high toxic-response factor within the study site and the Risk Assessment Code (RAC) suggested Cd posed the most risk in this site. Furthermore, the oral bioaccessibility test showed that less than 40% of the total concentration of all the identified metals was potentially available for absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. In the inhalation bioaccessiblity, with the exception of Cd, the percentage bioaccessibility of the other metals was less than 35% after 120 hours. The health risk characterization indicated the adverse human health effect through the ingestion pathway and a relative lower probability of risk through the inhalation of pathway. This study established a high level of contamination as a result of the informal recycling activities, underscores the importance of applying speciation and bioaccessibility and bioavailability in risk assessment. Finally, in an attempt to evaluate the risk, the study proposed an integrated risk assessment framework which when tried and tested is aimed to positively influence the risk judgement and ultimately risk management decisions whereby providing valuable insights that would translate to an efficient and sustainable management system at the long run.

A number of issues in the thesis need to be clarified and will be discussed individually below. The term Third World, which is used in the thesis to describe developing countries in a disadvantageous economic position in relation to developed countries, is unsatisfactory. It is a collective term which combines countries with dissimilar cultures, ideologies and future prospects into one category (De Souza & Porter, 1974). Debate continues whether South Africa can be classified as a First or Third World country (Fair, 1982). Rogerson & Beavon (1980) indicate that South Africa can be described as dichotomous because it reflects characteristics of both First and Third World countries. In comparison De Souza & Porter (1974,1) include South Africa among the Third World countries, because four-fifths of the people have an income that is six times less than the income of the other fifth, and they live in a condition of underdevelopment. Conditions in Fingo Village resemble those described by De Souza & Porter (1974) and hence the results of the Fingo Village survey are compared with similar studies, elsewhere in the Third World. However, it would be naive to assume that Fingo Village is unaffected by development within the core regions of South Africa, which in many instances epitomize the First World. The term informal sector, used throughout the thesis, is also unsatisfactory, and debate continues as theorists attempt to find a more appropriate term. Santos (1979) indicates that the term informal sector is contentious, by placing it in single quotation marks. From the literature survey it emerged that the majority of authors did not follow Santos' convention (1979) and thus it seemed acceptable to use the term, informal sector, without placing it in single quotation marks. Chapter Two deals in-depth with the problem of defining the informal sector, and a working definition for the Fingo Village survey is presented in section 2.4.1. The informal sector embraces a wide diversity of economic activities. Due to the limited time and funds available, it was decided to isolate one aspect of this sector, namely, hawking. Sections 2.3 and 2.7 of Chapter Two indicate that hawking is an exemplary informal sector activity. All the different hawking types could not be given close attention and therefore, for practical purposes, it was decided to select one facet of hawking, namely, fruit and vegetable hawkers. Mobile fruit and vegetable hawkers were excluded from the study as it was impossible, during the mapping survey, to isolate a specific hawking site for each mobile hawker. Furthermore, a mobile hawker could easily be enumerated on more than one occasion, and hence a margin of error would automatically occur in the study. This was another reason for excluding mobile hawkers from the study and merely focusing upon static and semi-static fruit and vegetable hawkers. It is difficult to collect comprehensive quantitative data on informal sector activities (Preston-Whyte et al, 1984). The interviewer has to gain the confidence and trust of the subjects. The interviewer for the Fingo Village survey was a well known local personality and a man of some standing in the Black community. Daniel Sandi was the Secretary, of the Grahamstown Association (GRACA), which was reputed to have the support of the majority of the Black residents in Grahamstown until it was banned under the State of Emergency in July 1985. Daniel Sandi was also known for his contribution in literary circles as an epic poet. His previous experience conducting socio-economic surveys, as a researcher for the Border Council of Churches and as the Teba Research Assistant for the Institute of Social and Economic Research, Rhodes University, was also helpful. Sporadic unrest in the study area, from September 1984 and throughout 1985, prevented further fieldwork from being conducted in Fingo Village.

As global solid waste management systems evolve to include wider elements of sustainability, developing countries are struggling with how best to work with a growing informal sector. This research seeks to investigate how developing country mainstream solid waste management systems can harness the opportunities presented through the informal recycling sector. This research explores the dialogue around „formalisation of the informal‟ and „integration of informal recycling sector into mainstream solid waste management systems‟, approaching this from an informal sector perspective. The research endeavours to offer insights to this discourse from an inclusive, social innovation approach. The research looks at what business models the informal recycling sector use as they adopt or adapt industrialised practices and how these harness inclusion and social innovation. The research area is Bulawayo, Zimbabwe with the informal recycling sector as case study. The main research question is “How can we harness inclusion and social innovation as the informal sector transitions into mainstream economic spaces?” The research employs an inductive qualitative approach through a rapid ethnography, focus group discussions and semi-structured key informant interviews. Key concepts explored in this research include „circumstantial social entrepreneurship‟, „generational informality‟, „value chain alliances‟, „public, private, community and informal sector partnerships (PPCIPs)‟ and „inclusive development as a pre-requisite to formalisation‟. By unpacking the business models employed by the informal recycling sector and how inclusive, social innovation opportunities inherent in these can be harnessed during the transition from shadow to mainstream economy spaces, this research intends to offer progressive approaches on how to unlock shared value during the graduation of the informal recycling sector from shadow to mainstream socio-economic spaces. Additionally, the outputs of this research aim to contribute to context-specific knowledge on types of non traditional social entrepreneurial activity within informal spaces and how these push boundaries of inclusive, social innovation.

The handling of wastes is an eternal problem, all societies are confronted to this issue. Their origins are very diverse, they could come from industrial activities, power production, shops, retail or household for instance. While in developed countries the collection is generally efficient and the disposal safe, the situation in developing countries is different. The municipal budget does not allow the construction of advanced and expensive methods of disposal and the collection suffer from the age of vehicles. This generalisation is nevertheless not totally truth as the situation is extremely depend on the country but also of the city considered. Each city will need to adapt its waste management according to its size, climate, wealth, culture, etc... This report will focus on a Namibian medium town, Tsumeb. The aim is to be able to draw a clear picture of the waste management currently achieved. When the situation is well known, new directions to make Tsumeb refuse management more sustainable can be decided. Implementing progressively an integrated waste management (IWM) is a solution to the waste problem as it is considering economic, social and environmental impacts. A waste characterization was done in order to know the exact amount and composition of the waste generated in Tsumeb to implement afterwards the most suitable solution. The refuse of Tsumeb are surprisingly very similar to high income country. Moreover the stakeholders involved in recycling were investigated. A small informal sector is already making a living by recycling a few materials as glass bottle and cans. There is also a possibility to include extra stakeholder in the recycling process in Tsumeb. Recycling companies, recycling organization or investors are also important stakeholder who can be include in Tsumeb recycling plan. Developing recycling in Tsumeb is facing some challenges but it is also full of opportunities. The main issue when it comes to recycling in Namibia is the long transportation distances what makes it expensive. Furthermore, most of the recovered materials have to be sent in South Africa because Namibia does not possess the necessary industries to recycle paper and glass for instance. On another hand the presence in Tsumeb of a small informal sector already working with waste is promising. The workers could be more organized and the municipality can also helping them with logistic and storage to improve the recycling done. The dump site will also be close within the next years and a new sanitary landfill will be open. It will be a great opportunity to implement a recycling facility on site. Informal workers working on the landfill will be more controlled, to avoid for instance children labour. Some stricter health and safety measure can be decided, to give better working condition to the informal manpower. The development of recycling activities in Tsumeb will be highly beneficial to the community. It will create jobs for the poorest part of the population, decrease the cost of the waste management, reduce the pollution and stimulate the local economy.

Durant els darrers 50 anys, la implementació de sistemes integrats de gestió de residus gestionats pels municipis a Europa ha comportat la professionalització del sector, deixant poc marge per al sector informal del reciclatge. No obstant això, des de l’última dècada han sorgit nous grups socials, generalment immigrants, que han trobat en aquest sector una nova forma de vida. En moltes ciutats catalanes, la recollida informal de residus és una activitat cada vegada més present, que proporciona ingressos econòmics a persones que no poden treballar en el sector laboral formal, ja sigui per la seva condició de manca de ciutadania o per trobar-se en situacions d’exclusió social. Tot i que els treballadors informals del reciclatge són presents a tot Catalunya, hi ha poc coneixement, especialment en el món acadèmic, sobre la seva prevalença, sobre la contribució del seu treball a l’assoliment d’objectius ambientals i sobre com aquest treball està afectant el sistema formal de residus. A més, tot i que suposen un benefici ambiental per a la societat, les persones que s’hi dediquen reben poc o cap reconeixement social per la feina que estan fent. Per això, aquesta investigació intenta respondre la pregunta de ‘quin paper juga i com és valorat el sector informal en l’assoliment dels objectius ambientals d’una societat?’ Per respondre aquesta pregunta, al temps que es reconeixen els perjudicis socioambientals que pateix el sector del reciclatge informal des d’un marc teòric de justícia ambiental, s’ha emprat les teories de Henri Lefebvre sobre les dimensions de l’espai urbà (percebut, concebut i viscut) i sobre la seva noció de bens comuns urbans, com una forma de problematitzar a qui pertanyen els residus. Per a aquesta investigació, s’utilitza un enfocament metodològic mixt per intentar respondre a la pregunta principal mitjançant entrevistes, observació participant, qüestionaris i mètodes comparatius. Aquest enfocament proporciona dades quantitatives per a comprendre l’impacte de el sector informal de residus, juntament amb dades qualitatives per comprendre la realitat social en la que aquest existeix. Per aquesta investigació s’ha realitzat un estudi de cas a la ciutat catalana de Granollers per a recopilar dades empíriques, juntament amb diverses entrevistes addicionals en altres municipis de tot Catalunya. Els resultats mostren que, tot i que sempre ha existit un sector informal vinculat al reciclatge a Catalunya, les persones que actualment es dediquen a aquesta activitat no reben el mateix grau de respecte, ja que estan formats per immigrants i grups ètnics que vénen de l’estranger, sovint en situacions d’il·legalitat, i que, al seu torn, compten amb les seves pròpies divisions socials i ètniques. A més, l’anàlisi mostra que els espais en què opera el sector informal de reciclatge determinen la propietat i l’accés dels materials, així com l’experiència viscuda dels treballadors informals. La relació entre els sectors del reciclatge formal i informal és simbiòtica. Tot i que des del sector formal no es considera l’informal com a part de el sistema de gestió de residus, i s’utilitza el seu poder per a limitar-li l’accés als recursos, tots dos operen en una relació de co-dependència, on cada un es veu afectat per l’altre, en unes relacions que es van ajustant d’acord a factors externs, com els preus de mercat global. Finalment, tot i que s’observa que l’experiència viscuda pel sector del reciclatge informal exemplifica bé la distribució desigual de riscos ambientals, de càrregues tòxiques i d’injustícies socials que existeixen al voltant del sistema de gestió de residus, cal tenir en compte que les persones que es dediquen al reciclatge informal són també habitants de la ciutat i que, per tant, han de tenir dret a unes condicions de vida i treball dignes.
En los últimos 50 años, la implementación de sistemas integrados de gestión de residuos gestionados por los municipios en Europa ha llevado a la profesionalización del sector, dejando poco espacio para el sector informal del reciclaje. Sin embargo, desde la última década han surgido nuevos grupos sociales, generalmente inmigrantes, que han encontrado en este sector una nueva forma de vida. En muchas ciudades catalanas, la recogida informal de residuos es una actividad cada vez más presente, que proporciona ingresos económicos a las personas que no pueden trabajar en el sector laboral formal, ya sea por su condición de ciudadanía, o por situaciones de exclusión social. Aunque la presencia de trabajadores informales del reciclaje se percibe en toda Cataluña, existe poco conocimiento, especialmente en el mundo académico, sobre su prevalencia, sobre la contribución que su trabajo está haciendo en relación con los objetivos medioambientales y sobre cómo su trabajo está afectando al sistema formal de residuos. Además, aunque suponen un beneficio ambiental para la sociedad, reciben poco o ningún reconocimiento por el trabajo que están haciendo, y no está claro por qué. Esta investigación intenta responder a la pregunta, ¿qué papel juega y cómo es valorado el sector informal en relación con los objetivos ambientales de una sociedad? Para responder a esta pregunta, al tiempo que se reconocen los perjuicios socioambientales que sufre el sector del reciclaje informal desde un marco teórico de justicia ambiental, se añaden dos propuestas teóricas del escritor francés Henri Lefebvre, las tres dimensiones del espacio urbano (percibido, concebido y vivido) y su noción de bienes comunes, que ayuda a considerar quién puede acceder y beneficiarse de los materiales percibidos como residuos. Para esta investigación, se utiliza un enfoque metodológico mixto para tratar de responder a la pregunta principal mediante entrevistas, observación participante, cuestionarios y métodos comparativos. Este enfoque proporciona datos cuantitativos para comprender el impacto del sector informal de residuos, junto con datos cualitativos para comprender la realidad social donde existen. Para esta investigación, se realizó un estudio de caso en la ciudad catalana de Granollers para recopilar datos empíricos, junto con diversas entrevistas adicionales en otros municipios de toda Cataluña. Los resultados muestran que, aunque siempre ha existido un sector informal del reciclaje en Cataluña, las personas que actualmente se dedican a esta actividad no reciben el mismo nivel de respeto, ya que están formados por inmigrantes y grupos étnicos que vienen del extranjero, y que, a su vez, cuentan con sus propias divisiones sociales y étnicas. Además, el análisis muestra que los espacios en los que opera el sector informal de reciclaje determinan la propiedad y el acceso al material, así como la experiencia vivida por los trabajadores informales. La relación entre el sector del reciclaje formal e informal es simbiótica. Aunque el sector del reciclaje formal no ve lo informal como parte del sistema de gestión de residuos y utiliza su poder para limitar su acceso a los recursos, ambos operan en una relación codependiente, donde cada uno se ve afectado por el otro, en unas relaciones que se van ajustando de acuerdo a factores externos, como los precios del mercado global. Finalmente, aunque la experiencia vivida del sector del reciclaje informal ejemplifica bien la distribución desigual de los riesgos ambientales, las cargas tóxicas y las injusticias sociales que existen alrededor del sistema de gestión de residuos, hay que tener en cuenta que las personas que se dedican al reciclaje informal son también habitantes de la ciudad y que, por lo tanto, tienen derecho a unas condiciones de vida y trabajo dignas.
Over the last 50 years, the implementation of municipally-run integrated waste management systems in Europe has led to the professionalization of the sector, leaving little room for the informal recycling sector. However, since the last decade, new social groups have emerged, usually immigrants, who have found in this sector a new way of life. In many Catalan cities, the informal collection of waste is an increasingly present activity, providing economic income to people who cannot work in the formal labor sector, either because of their citizenship status, or due to situations of social exclusion. Though the presence of informal recyclers is noticed through-out Catalonia, there is little understanding, especially in the academic world, of their prevalence, the contributions that their work is making towards environmental goals, and how their work is affecting the formal waste system. Furthermore, though they are performing an environmental benefit to society, they are receiving little to no recognition for the work that they are doing, and it is unclear why. This investigation attempts to answer the question, how is informality valued with regard to the environmental goals of a society? In order to answer this question, while at the same time recognizing the socio-environmental disadvantages the informal recycling sector has within the larger societal structure, an environmental justice perspective is employed as a theoretical framework. Within the environmental justice framework, two other frameworks from the French writer Henri Lefebvre are also employed. The first is Lefebvre’ s (1991) three views of space that exist within the urban core: perceived (physical), conceived (mental), and lived, to help understand how space shapes the informal recyclers’ work. The second is Lefebvre’ s (1968) views of the commons that help consider who can access and benefit from materials perceived as waste. For this investigation, a mixed-method approach is used to try and answer the main question using interviews, participatory observation, questionnaires, and comparative research methods. This approach provides quantitative data to understand the impact of the informal waste sector, along with qualitative data to understand the social reality where they exist. For this investigation, a case study was performed in the Catalan city of Granollers to collect empirical data, along with additional interviews with other municipalities throughout Catalonia in order to answer the main question. The results show that though there has always been an informal recycling sector in Catalonia, the current members are not given the same level of respect since they are made up of immigrants and ethnic groups that come from abroad, and who have their own divisions and ethnic identities. As well, analysis shows that the spaces that the informal recycling sector operate dictate ownership and access of material, as well as the lived experience of the recyclers. The relationship between the formal and informal recycling sector is somewhat symbiotic. Though the formal recycling sector does not view the informal as a part of the waste management system and uses its power to limit access of the resources, they still operate in a co-dependent relationship, where each is affected by the other, and adjusts according to global market prices. Finally, although the lived experience of the informal recycling sector best exemplifies the unequal distribution of environmental risks and toxic burdens coupled with environmental and social injustices that exist within the waste management system, the informal recycling sector are inhabitants of the city, and therefore have a right to it.

Research has demonstrated that mining activities can cause serious impacts on the environment, as well as the surrounding communities, mainly due to the unsafe storage of mine tailings. This research focuses on the sustainability assessment of new technologies for the recovery of metals from mine residues. The assessment consists in the evaluation of the environmental, economic, and social impacts through the Life Cycle based methods: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Life Cycle Costing (LCC), and Social Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA). The analyses are performed on the Mondo Minerals bioleaching project, which aim is to recover nickel and cobalt from the Sotkamo and Vuonos mine tailings. The LCA demonstrates that the project contributes to the avoided production of nickel and cobalt concentrates from new resources, hence reducing several environmental impacts. The LCC analysis shows that the company’s main costs are linked to the bioleaching process, caused by electricity consumption and the chemicals used. The SLCA analyses the impacts on three main stakeholder categories: workers, local community, and society. The results demonstrated that a fair salary (or the absence of it) impacts the workers the most, while the local community stakeholder category impacts are related to the access to material resources. The health and safety category is the most impacted category for the society stakeholder. The environmental and economic analyses demonstrate that the recovery of mine tailings may represents a good opportunity for mine companies both to reduce the environmental impacts linked to mine tailings and to increase the profitability. In particular, the project helps reduce the amounts of metals extracted from new resources and demonstrates that the use of the bioleaching technology for the extraction of metals can be economically profitable.

Magister Economicae - MEcon
Livelihoods are essential for poverty alleviation. A poor person’s life cannot be transformed at all if the person has no means of earning a substantial income to sustain daily living. In today’s world many people rely on human capital for livelihoods. This is usually in the form of skills or educational qualifications that permit an individual to find employment. However, not every person is able to get meaningful employment which can generate an income to allow the person to live above the poverty lines. Generating an income from employment is not a livelihoods strategy that is available to many South Africans as the country has high unemployment rates and an economy that is performing poorly. In addition the overspill of institutionalised inequality from the apartheid era has many South Africans living in poverty. The South African government is promoting Small Micro and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMMEs) as a key strategy for job creation, economic growth for poverty alleviation and a reduction in inequalities. Many poor people in urban areas adopt micro enterprises as a livelihoods strategy. The research assessed the impact of micro enterprises on the livelihoods of low income households in Khayelitsha. The objectives of the research were; (a) to determine the impact that micro enterprises have on the livelihoods of low income households; (b) to ascertain how low income households identify micro enterprises as a livelihoods strategy; (c) to identify how household assets were allocated to livelihoods strategies; (d) to determine how low income households operate micro enterprises; and (e) to identify challenges faced by low income households in earning a livelihood through micro enterprises. A qualitative research design was used for the study because the aims of the research were to get an insight as to how people’s lives had transformed by adopting micro enterprises as a livelihoods strategy. To this end, in-depth interviews and observation data collection methods were employed. A study sample of 22 participants was drawn using non-probability sampling. Grounded theory was used for data analysis. Coded data was entered into an Excel spreadsheet which was used to generate graphs and tables. The findings indicate that micro enterprises as a livelihoods strategy have a positive impact on the livelihoods of many households in Khayelitsha. The impact is more significant because many households who engage in micro enterprises do not have other options for livelihoods strategies. Furthermore, many households reported to be better off operating a micro enterprise rather than being employed. Some households reported dissatisfaction with micro enterprises because they could not determine beforehand how much income would be generated making it difficult to plan monthly household expenditure. None the less micro enterprises enabled households to provide shelter, food, education for children and family members, health care and provision of household furniture. The results also indicate that for many micro enterprise owners the lack of financial capital was the biggest challenge because it prevented capital investment. High competition was also a challenge that a few owners were not able to overcome. On the whole the study concluded that micro enterprises are a good livelihoods strategy for the poor and could keep many South Africans above the poverty line.

The city of Xalapa, like many Mexican cities, does not count with any sort of official recycling program. Resource recovery relies on the work performed by the informal recycling sector and often, such work is neglected by the local government. In line with this, the aim of this study is to evaluate if a participatory resource management is a more suitable option than the current approach; so that the informal recycling sector can be included into the formal waste management system. In order to do so, this study employed a case study method using qualitative data; during the month of field work in Xalapa, semi- structured interviews and observation were the techniques used for collecting data. Concepts such as informal economy, participatory resource management, network theory and waste management were employed to analyze the organization and operation of the formal and informal waste management systems. Drawn from the results and analysis, it was presented that the informal recycling sector in Xalapa is composed of 5 different types of actors. Some of these actors are organized, while others work independently. The study revealed that their income is related to their capability of accessing to infrastructure and resources. This access to infrastructure and resources takes the form of a secondary materials trade hierarchy where the income of an actor depends on their ability to add value to their recovered materials. Additionally, organized actors tend to be less prone to manipulation and exploitation. Furthermore, it was deemed relevant to look at the current policies and regulations as well as to the action plans proposed by the local government for alleviating the solid waste crisis in Xalapa. It was identified that to consider a participatory resource management approach, several barriers need to be overcome; these barriers lie within the governance and social spectrum. However, despite the identified barriers, the current waste management system has opportunities for creating a more inclusive and socially just municipal solid waste management system.

Cette thèse questionne les liens entre les territoires urbains et la valorisation non institutionnelle des déchets dans deux capitales africaines, Dakar au Sénégal et Addis Abäba en Éthiopie. Ces relations sont interrogées à l’aune du contexte actuel de modernisation de ces agglomérations, qui ont fait du « vert » et surtout du « propre », de nouveaux paradigmes de leur développement. Tandis que la plupart des études portent sur les carences ou les défaillances de la gestion officielle des services urbains, cette recherche se focalise sur la valorisation des déchets, qui considère ces derniers comme une ressource. Celle-ci, de plus en plus mise en avant au Nord, est une forme de traitement qui redonne de la valeur aux ordures. Au Sud, et dans les deux capitales étudiées, elle est aux mains du secteur informel et des ménages. Dans ce cadre, cette thèse a pour ambition de comprendre, à travers leur valorisation non institutionnelle, comment les déchets participent à la construction de territoires et influent sur les évolutions urbaines actuelles à Dakar et Addis Abäba. La dimension spatiale du processus est étudiée à travers l’analyse et la mise en relation de ce que nous appelons les « lieux de l’ordure » (décharges, marchés des déchets, etc.) perçus comme marginaux. La comparaison et les enquêtes de terrains qualitatives (questionnaires et entretiens) donnent à voir les modalités du développement de la valorisation, ses spécificités et les dynamiques territoriales qu’elle produit. Cette thèse montre que ces dernières peinent à s’insérer dans les nouvelles donnes urbaines, voire interfèrent négativement avec les tentatives de régulation en cours. En revisitant la thématique de l’informel, ce travail questionne les possibilités de développement pour ‐ et les risques encourus par ‐ un processus fondamental pour faire des déchets une ressource urbaine en Afrique
This thesis examines the links between urban areas and non-institutional recycling in two African capitals : Dakar, Senegal and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. These connections are studied regarding the current state of modernisation of these metropolises, which have been going green and above all keeping it clean and became models of development. Most of the studies are about the lacks and the flaws of the bureaucratic management of the urban transit. This research focuses on recycling, which they see as resource. The latter, more and more promoted in the North, is a way of handling the rubbish that puts more value into it. As for the South and in those two capitals in particular, recycling is the hands of the informal sector and households. In this case, this thesis aims to understand through informal recycling how rubbish plays a part in the creation of territories and the current expansions of Dakar and Addis Ababa. The spatial dimension of the procedure is studied through the analysis and the links of what we call “rubbish spots” (rubbish tips, the waste market) are considered marginal. The comparison and qualitative field surveys (questionnaires and interviews) sho how recycling is developed, its specific features and the regional dynamism coming out of it. This thesis shows that the latter can barely be part of the new urban deal and that they have negative interference with the current regulations attempt. By revisiting the platform of the informal, this job questions the possible developments for – and the risks taken – for a fundamental process to trun rubbish into an urban resource on the African continent

This thesis presents the implementation and the optimization of a waste management system (WMS) in the Koinonia community (that is sited in the Chilanga district near Lusaka), showing the challenges that must be faced, implementing a WMS in a developing country. In the first part of the thesis it will be contextualized the waste management in the Zambian economy showing how a diversification involving the it could fit with the needs of the Nation. In the second part it will be treated the waste management hierarchy through the illustration of some European policies (like Circular Economy Package) and best practice (like WtE in Sweden). In the third part it will be analyzed the case of study Koinonia community where it has been spent three month. The object of the study was how to make the waste management system economical sustainable, the various issue regarding this subject are described by some reports wrote at the beginning of the experience and at the end. In addition, the chapter presents a study about the waste production in Chilanga and the data collected by means the interview with the waste aggregator present in the city. Concluding, it is showed a proposal of evolution of the waste management system which consist in install a phv (Photovoltaic) system that will feed an ecological island of low dimension.

One of the main polluting industries in the world with high environmental impact is the construction industry which also generates a huge amount of waste. To overcome the seburdens, we need to reduce the impacts through new solutions, technologies and by injecting circular economy concept into the industry. Construction and building material industry are responsible for nearly 11% of all GHG emissions and the usage of residential/commercial buildings is contributing to 28% of all GHG emissions globally. the construction industry is also responsible for 35% of the total wastes in the European Union. Both linear economy and emissions of the construction sector are becoming more important in recent years that led to the development of many standards, frameworks and innovations. Reporting environmental burdens of the construction elements, products and construction works or construction projects is one of the ways for emissions accounting. Therefore, a report on environmental impacts of goods or services is called environmental product claims which can be based on a single criterion (like CO2 emission or % of recycled content) or based on a complete LCA study with multiple impacts. These reports have been classified by ISO 14020 series in three types, Type I (third-party certified label), Type II (self-declared claims) and Type III (the third party verified declaration based on LCA study). The third type is known as Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). To make the LCA results in EPD:s comparable, Product Category Rules (PCR) are developed. The regulations for the construction materials are defined in EN 15804 so the declarations of the building materials and construction works according to these regulations are compliant with EN 15804. Another framework for environmental declarations called, Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) is developed in Europe. Besides Business to Business declarations that are the target group for EN 15804, PEF also includes environmental labelling (type I) with consumers as the target group. The PCR:s from the updated version of EN15804:2012+A2:2019 can be regarded as the parallel methodology specification for the construction materials in the PEF system. Other product groups' rules and specifications are based on the PEF guidance document. The overall aims of this study are to compare the EN 15804 and PEF formulas concentrating on credits at the end of life and after the end of life stage and to reduce the subjectivity of two variables, energy margin, and recycling rate in the assessment of recycling alternatives after the end-of-life stage. Calculated credits can be included differently in the environmental declarations depending on the methodological approach. PEF includes the End-of-Life (EoL) credits into the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study and adds them to the product's performance results, while EN 15804 mandates to report the credits from recycling/recovery separately as supplementary information to the products environmental performance. To compare the credits that are calculated according to PEF and EN 15804, a separate indicator is virtually defined for PEF in order to calculate all the credits separately and compare the results with EN 15804 Module Dresults to give the reader an overview of the most beneficial uses of the construction waste according to PEF and EN 15804. Reducing subjectivity of choosing recycling rate has been addressed by developing more transparent and less subjective tool by integrating and using DGNB (German Sustainable Building Council) and BRE (center for building research in the UK) methods. For energy margin, this has been done by integrating energy margin calculation tool by CDM (Clean Development Mechanism, United Nations) and find the contribution of different materials to the environmental benefits in and after the end of life stage of the building lifecycle. However, the DGNB and BRE methods require further development, since they are not originally developed for LCA studies and just used as the only current options available in order to make recyclability assessment methods compatible with LCA studies. Other methods, specifically for LCA, can also be developed in the future. Based on an inventory of the components and materials used in a real building, the most environmental benefits (credits) from downstream recycling/recovery considering all materials are generated for the wooden products when using the EN 15804 formula, while aluminium is in the second place. On the other hand, aluminium is in the first place and wood is second using the PEF formula. Aluminium has by far the most benefits (credits) considering the credits per kg of each material, due to the huge recycling potential that aluminium has and will replace primary aluminium in the future. Unlike PEF, EN 15804 reports all credits separately outside of the LCA system boundary. This is very beneficial since the correct verified LCA will not beaffected by the credits that are given based on current technologies when the end of life of the building components are between 40 to 120 years away from today.
En av de industrier i världen med högst miljöpåverkan är byggbranschen som också genererar en enorm mängd avfall. För att hantera detta måste vi minska effekterna genom nya lösningar, teknologier och genom att använda konceptet cirkulär ekonomi i byggbranschen. Bygg- och byggnadsmaterialindustrin är ansvarig för nästan 11% av alla växthusgasutsläpp och användningen av bostäder / kommersiella byggnader bidrar till 28% av allaväxthusgasutsläpp globalt. Byggbranschen ansvarar också för 35% av det totala avfallet i EU. Både linjär ekonomi och utsläpp från byggsektorn har blivit viktigare under de senaste åren vilket har lett till utveckling av många standarder, ramverk och innovationer. Att rapportera miljöbelastningar för byggelement, produkter och bygg- och anläggningsarbeten är ett av sätten för utsläppsredovisning. Därför kallas en rapport om miljöpåverkan av varor eller tjänster Miljömärkning som kan baseras på ett enda kriterium (som CO2-utsläpp eller procent av återvunnet innehåll) eller baserat på en fullständig LCAstudie med flera effekter. Dessa rapporter har klassificerats enligt ISO 14020-serien i tre typer, typ I (tredjepartscertifierad märkning), typ II (självdeklarerade påståenden) och typ III (tredjepart verifierad deklaration baserad på LCA-studie). Den tredje typen är känd som Miljövarudeklaration/Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). För att göra LCA-resultat i EPD:er jämförbara, utvecklas Product Category Rules (PCR) (Produktkategoriregler). Regler för byggnadsmaterialen definieras i EN 15804, så deklarationerna om byggnadsmaterial och byggnadsarbeten enligt dessa regler överensstämmer med EN 15804. Ett annat ramverk för miljödeklaration är ProductEnvironmental Footprint (PEF) som är utvecklad inom EU. Förutom Business to Businessdeklarationer som är målgruppen för EN 15804 inkluderar PEF också miljömärkning (typ I) med konsumenter som målgrupp. PCR:erna från den uppdaterade versionen av EN 15804:2012 + A2: 2019 kan betraktas som den parallella metodspecifikationen för byggmaterialen i PEF-systemet. Andra produktgruppers regler och specifikationer är baserade på PEFs vägledningsdokument. De övergripande syftena med denna studie är att jämföra formlerna EN 15804 och PEF som koncentrerar sig på krediter i slutet av livscykeln och att minska subjektiviteten för två variabler, energimarginal och återvinningsgrad vid bedömningen av återvinningsalternativ i slutet av livscykeln. Beräknade krediter kan inkluderas olika i miljödeklarationerna beroende på den valda metoden. PEF inkluderar slutet av livscykeln (EoL)-krediter i livscykelanalys (LCA) -studien och lägger dem till produktens resultat, medan EN 15804 kräver att krediterna från återvinning rapporteras separat som kompletterande information till produkternas miljöprestanda. För att jämföra krediter som beräknas enligt PEF och EN 15804, definieras en virtuell separat indikator för PEF för att beräkna alla krediter separat och jämföra resultaten med EN 15804 Modul D-resultat för att ge läsaren en översikt över de mest fördelaktiga användning av byggavfall enligt PEF och EN 15804. Olika sätt att minska subjektiviteten i valet av återvinningsgrad behandlas genom att utveckla mer transparenta och mindre subjektiva verktyg med hjälp av metoder från DGNB (German Sustainable Building Council) och BRE (Center for building research, UK). Energimarginal behandlas genom att integrera ett verktyg för energimarginaler från CDM (Clean Development Mechanism, FN) och hitta bidraget från olika material till miljöfördelarna i och efter livscykeln för byggnaden. DGNB och BRE metoderna kräver emellertid ytterligare utveckling, eftersom de inte ursprungligen är utvecklade för LCA-studier och bara används som de enda tillgängliga alternativen för att göra utvärderingsmetoder för återvinningsbarhet kompatibla med LCA-studier. Andra metoder, speciellt för LCA, kan också utvecklas i framtiden. Baserat på en inventering av komponenter och material som används i en riktig byggnad, genereras de största miljömässiga fördelarna (krediter) av nedströms återvinning av träprodukter när man använder EN 15804-formeln, medan aluminium ligger på andra plats. Å andra sidan är kommer aluminium i första hand och trä kommer på andra plats med PEFformeln. Aluminium har överlägset flest fördelar (krediter) per kg av varje material, på grundav den enorma återvinningspotentialen som aluminium har och kommer att ersätta primärt aluminium i framtiden. Till skillnad från PEF rapporterar EN 15804 alla krediter separat utanför LCA-systemgränsen. Detta är mycket fördelaktigt eftersom den korrekta verifierade LCAn inte kommer att påverkas av de krediter som ges baserat på nuvarande teknik när byggnadskomponenternas livslängd är mellan 40 och 120 år från idag.

Au cours des deux dernières décennies, les deux groupes vulnérables des ethnies minoritaires et des entreprises familiales ont contribué à la croissance économique, mais n’ont pas été en mesure de bénéficier de la croissance économique autant que d’autres groupes au Vietnam. Le caractère moins inclusif de ces deux groupes dans la croissance économique demande une étude sur l'écart ethnique de bien être et des performances des entreprises familiales au point de vue des réseaux sociaux. Cette recherche étudie le rôle des réseaux sociaux en utilisant la méthode Q-square sur une base de données originale, les données quantitatives et qualitatives des relations sociales d'une entreprise familiale, et avec un instrument innovant: être le fils l'aîné. Le chapitre 1 mesure et analyse les déterminants principaux de l’écart ethnique pendant les dix ans derniers. Le chapitre 2 identifie les effects de cause entre les réseaux sociaux et la performance des entreprises familiales. Enfin, le chapitre 3 présente une étude qualitative de l'impact des réseaux sociaux sur les performances des entrepreneurs informels. Cette étude se centre sur une dimension particulière des réseaux qui est la force des liens. Elle distingue par ailleurs l’utilisation des réseaux à la création de l’entreprise et à un stade plus avancé de son développement
Over the past two decades, the two vulnerable groups of ethnic minorities and household businesses have participated in the economic growth but could not benefit from the growth process as much as the other groups in Vietnam. The inadequate inclusiveness of these two groups in the economic growth calls for an investigation of the ethnic gap and household businesses' performance with a lens of social networks. This study aims to examine the role of social networks, using a Q-squared method to analyze an original dataset, which combined both the quantitative and qualitative datasets on social networks of household businesses. In doing so, the study employs an innovative instrument of being the first son in the family. Chapter 1 measures and analyses the main drivers of the ethnic gap over the last ten years. Chapter 2 identifies the causal effects of social networks on household businesses' performance. Chapter 3 presents a qualitative analysis of the impact of social networks on business performance by the content and the strength of social relationships, and the business phase

The world is facing a global waste crisis due to half of the waste produced not being collected, treated or safely disposed of. Waste not managed in a proper way causes air and water pollution and has negative health and social impacts on people living or working close to the waste. Alt- hough evidence shows that implementing gender approaches improves environmental issues, and the majority of waste pickers are women, few organisations focused on waste management are implementing gender mainstreaming into their work. This case study examines gender main- streaming within the organisation Women in Informal Employment: Globalising and Organising (WIEGO) in relation to environmental issues. WIEGO is an international organisation working to increase the voice, visibility and validity of the working poor, with a special emphasis on women, with a core project that supports cooperative waste picker women in Brazil. The study was conducted through two interviews on local and international level and the analysis of 20 documents describing WIEGO and its work. The theories and concepts of gender mainstreaming, intersectionality, Feminist Political Ecology and Environmental Justice were used to analyse the results. The study showed that WIEGO was implementing gender mainstreaming in their opera- tive work, in the policy framework and in the waste picker projects in Brazil which has resulted in physical and emotional improvements for WIEGO employees internationally and waste pick- ers in Brazil. <<<
Världen står inför en global avfallshanteringskris där hälften av allt avfall som produceras inte insamlas, hanteras eller kasseras på ett säkert sätt. Avfall som inte hanteras säkert skapar luft- och vattenföroreningar och har negativa hälsosamma och sociala effekter för människor som lever eller arbetar nära avfallet. Trots att forskning visar att genusperspektiv förbättrar miljö- problem, och att majoriteten av avfallshanterare är kvinnor, fokuserar få organisationer som hanterar avfall på ”gender mainstreaming” i sitt arbete. Denna fallstudie undersöker ”gender mainstreaming” i organisationen Women in Informal Employment: Globalising and Organising (WIEGO) i relation till miljöproblem. WIEGO är en internationell organisation som arbetar med att öka inflytandet, synligheten och validiteten hos fattiga arbetande, med ett särskilt fokus på kvinnor, med ett kärnprogram som stöttar kooperativ av avfallshanterande kvinnor i Brasi- lien. Studien genomfördes med två intervjuer på lokal och internationell nivå och analys av 20 dokument som beskriver WIEGO och dess arbete. Teorierna och koncepten ”gender mainstrea- ming”, intersektionalitet, Feministisk Politisk Ekologi och miljörättvisa användes för att analy- sera resultaten. Studien visar att WIEGO använder sig av ”gender mainstreaming” i sitt opera- tiva arbete, i sitt policyramverk och i avfallshanteringsprojekten i Brasilien, vilket resulterat it fysiska och emotionella förbättringar för WIEGOs internationellt anställda och för de avfalls- hanterande kvinnorna i Brasilien.

The increase in global population and high urbanisation rates characterised by high resource consumption and waste generation levels has led to challenges in waste management around the world. Waste management remains one of the most critical challenges faced by local governments in developing countries. Informal business enterprises have come under the spotlight for their high waste production and poor waste management practices. Many arguments have been put forward as to the real environmental impacts caused by informal business enterprises due to their waste practices. This research aimed at assessing the waste management practices in the informal business sector in Olievenhoutbosch Township, Pretoria. Data collection was carried out between March 2016 and September 2016. The research utilised both qualitative and quantitative methods. The methodology employed techniques that included structured questionnaires, structured interviews and field observations. Semi- structured face to face interviews were carried out with key informants. These interviews provided information on the frequency of waste collection, available waste management awareness and challenges faced in delivering the service. The research also involved 230 field observations to study the pattern and frequency of waste collection and waste behaviours by informal business enterprises. Questionnaires were administered to 120 informal business enterprises with a response rate of 84.17%. Data from questionnaires and field observations indicated that waste generated by informal business enterprises (plastic bags, card board, packaging plastics, glass bottles and plastic bottles) was mainly recyclable waste. The most preferred disposal methods were use of refuse plastic bags (31%), open space dumping (20%) and burning (30%). Analysis of the results showed that there was lack of information on waste management and that also influenced waste behaviours. Preferences for waste disposal methods were influenced by many factors including lack of information, shortage of waste disposal facilities and waste collection frequency by the local town council. The research found that waste collection in various sections of the township was done once per week which has led to increased indiscriminate waste dumping and burning of waste. It was recommended that waste management information be provided to informal business enterprises especially on waste separation and recycling. The municipality should increase frequency of waste collection or provide central point waste facilities to business operators.
Environmental Sciences
M. Sc. (Environmental Science)

A research paper submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science November, 2016.
Informal solid waste recycling has increasingly become part of the urban landscape in many South African cities and towns. In the city of Johannesburg, for example, waste pickers are now playing an important role in waste management and recycling. There is evidence in the literature that suggests these activities have both economic and environmental benefits thereby contributing towards job creation and environmental sustainability. Despite the role that the informal sector contributes to waste management and socio-economic development, as well as environmental sustainability, the urban development and planning policy in South Africa has not embraced and integrated informal systems of municipal waste management in its policy framework. Drawing on field-based study conducted in selected parts of the City of Johannesburg, and using methods inspired by the traditional participatory research, this study explored the institutional framework within which informal solid waste management can be pursued. One solution to this problem could be the integration of the informal sector recycling into the formal waste management system. To achieve informal sector recycling integration, this study identifies barriers that hinder the integration of the informal sector into an inclusive waste management: repressive policy, lack of evidence to support activity, social acceptance, illegal migrants and lack of valid citizenship documents. It is essential to note that the integration of waste pickers should not be grounded on a ‘universal’ model but should instead take into account local context and conditions.
MT2017

Dissertation presented in partial fulfilment for the degree of Master of Management (in the field of Public and Development Management) to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand September 2017
The linear market model is the City of Johannesburg’s most recent street trading developmental intervention intended to manage and locate street traders in highly pedestrianised streets. The inner city of the City of Johannesburg is known for receiving a high influx of migrants from inside South Africa and outside the country seeking economic opportunities. Some of these migrants find themselves in the streets of the City of Johannesburg engaging in illegal street trading. The City of Johannesburg municipality has come up with various strategies to regulate and manage street trading including the introduction of By-laws. In 2008 the City of Johannesburg municipality introduced the linear market model as a means to provided proper structures for street traders, and models that are intended to organise them and assist in unlocking their entrepreneurial skills. The implementation of the linear market model had its own challenges, including some stakeholders believing that it is not beneficial and some traders believing that the entire process of moving them around undermined their rights. However, this research had not examined the conflicts that the municipality has with the street traders but focused on assessing the situation relating to the market, street traders’ challenges and the support they receive from the municipality. This research was conducted in the form of a case study to critically assess the linear markets located in the inner city of one of the busiest cities of the continent. The research assessed the functionality of the model focusing on the benefits that this market model brought to the street traders. The methodology applied to carry out this research does not generalise the findings for broader scope and consideration. However, the significance of the outputs through this research could be of use to provide insights within the City of Johannesburg where such infrastructure is developed. The research found that the linear market model is structurally functional but with some administration challenges. Maintenance and inadequate support by the municipality was the main challenge in these markets. This research study made recommendations to assist the municipality as it implements the linear market model in other regions of the municipality.
E.R.

Greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced through recovery and recycling of resources from the municipal solid waste stream. In São Paulo, Brazil, recycling cooperatives play a crucial role in providing recycling services including collection, separation, cleaning, stocking and collective sale of recyclable resources. The present research attempts to measure the greenhouse gas emission reductions achieved by the Cooperpires recycling cooperative, as well as highlight its socio-economic benefits. Methods include participant observation, structured interview, a questionnaire, and greenhouse gas accounting of recycling using a Clean Development Mechanism methodology. The results afford an exploration of the opportunity for Cooperpires and other similar recycling cooperatives to participate in the carbon credit market.
Graduate

This research paper looks at the issues that arise when implementing the regulatory regime governing street trading in the city of Durban. It does three things. First, it provides a comprehensive overview of the context of the street trading policy environment, in an attempt to set out the various discourses surrounding street trading regulation in the eThekwini municipal area from colonial times till the present. Second, the paper looks at the institutional profile of street trading and related issues within the operations of the city bureaucracy as part of the argument that its structural location determines, the attention and support that the sector gets. Consideration of related institutional variables such as location, budgeting, management strategy, and human resources revealed that the paradigm shift proposed by informal economy policy has occurred to some extent. However there are views that the organizational logic and culture of the municipality undermines speedy problem-solving mechanisms. Third, the paper explores issues that have to do with the impact of the changing regulation and institutional environment on the operations and livelihoods of street traders. Regulation is operationalised as registration, spatial allocation, enforcement and system capacity. The related experience of the regulatory regime suggests that implementation remains a problem in transforming a progressive policy intention.
Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

M.Tech. (Architectural Technology)
The City of Johannesburg has no formal recycling strategy and waste is simply dumped as collected in designated landfill sites. Yet these landfill sites, reportedly, will be good for no more than another eight years. Throughout the city there is an informal network of waste collectors commonly known as trolley pushers who, together with the private buy-back and recycle centres, form the only real system of recycling in Johannesburg. There is no infrastructure for the trolley pushers, men and women who perform a vital function. There are no dedicated spaces and very little tolerance from the residents of Johannesburg. The trolley pushers sleep amongst their collection of waste, or travel far to start each day in the very early hours of the morning. They roll their improvised trolleys full of goods in the street among the traffic of commuters, hindering and being hindered. They store their messy waste, when they can in unsafe and public spaces, such as under bridges and on the side of some roads. Storage is such a problem for trolley pushers that often they’re forced to sell their goods as soon as they collect them, when the fluctuating prices may be too low. They are always essentially at the mercy of the privately-owned buyback centres. Their days are long and they have no ablution facilities, no designated space to catch their breath, eat, obtain drinking water, network or socialise. This project is about changing that by facilitating the informal recycling sector, providing the convenient infrastructure without formalising the process. The term ‘convenient’ in this context encompasses spaces close to the buy-back centre, with low tech, low maintenance, mixed-use facilities. These facilities include secure sorting and storage spaces, sleeping, ablution and social spaces. The essence of this project is to encourage, empower and improve work and income potential in the informal waste recycling sector through simple, appropriate architectural interventions that are essentially selfmaintaining.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Technology Degree : Environmental Health, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015.
Introduction Informal waste picking has both economic and environmental benefits, however there are many health risks associated with this activity. This cross sectional descriptive study assessed the respiratory health risks and dust (PM2.5) exposure among informal waste pickers operating at the New England landfill site in the Msunduzi Municipality. Data was collected from 102 informal waste pickers using a validated questionnaire adapted from the British Medical Research Council and American Thoracic Society. Our study population comprised of 66.4°/o women with a mean age of 36.7 years. Women reported greater use of safety shoes and gloves compared to men. Very few participants used dust masks or respirators. Results showed a high prevalence of chronic cough (57o/o), wheeze (51°/o) shortness of breath (31.6°/o) and cough with phlegm (29.0°/o) among all participants. Among those who reported having ever smoked, there was a significantly higher prevalence of cough with phlegm (45.2°/o p=0.02) and wheeze (73.1°/o, p= 0.05). Similarly, there was a bivariate association between current smoking and wheeze (p=0.02) and between ever smoked and wheeze {p< 0.05). A random sample of 28 waste pickers was chosen from the 102 participants for personal sampling. The levels and distribution of time weighted average to PM2.5 were calculated during an 8 hour working period. Average personal sampling levels of PM2.5 were very high compared to environmental levels. Personal sampling results showed a maximum exposure of 431 J.,Jg/m 3 and a mean of 187.4 J.,Jg/m 3 compared to a maximum level of 27.9 J.,Jg/m 3 and a mean of 16.5 J.,Jg/m 3 for environmental sampling. Mean personal sampling results significantly exceeded recommended eight hour time weighted average for South African National Standard for Occupational Exposure Limit (Republic of South Africa OHS ACT 85 of 1993), World Health Organisation and United State Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for PM2.5, while the environmental mean was within guidelines. This study showed that waste pickers are exposed to high levels of PM2.5 while working at the landfill site. Limited or no use of personal protective equipment increases risk of dust exposure and adverse respiratory effects. The relatively high prevalence of cough, shortness of breath and wheeze symptoms among these informal waste pickers may be linked to exposure to dust at the landfill site
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This thesis examines the informal recovery of recyclable beverage containers in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The socio-economic characteristics and structure of the informal recycling sector is explored using a case study of the United We Can bottle depot in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Results indicate that informal resource recovery, also known in local vernacular as “binning”, has the potential to make a significant contribution to poverty alleviation, social inclusion and waste management. Further, the informal recycling community is comprised of a highly diverse range of individuals. Society’s acceptance and integration of this sector could contribute positively to both the social economy and the environmental movement. In order to do so, however, a collaborative effort between government and community is required to build capacity and an adequate infrastructure.