Title: The behaviour and attitudes of Kempton Park communities with reference to reusing domestic waste

Authors: Samantha L. Lange

Addresses: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein, 2028, Johannesburg, South Africa; City of Ekurhuleni, P.O. Box 13, Kempton Park, 1620, South Africa

Abstract: The reuse of domestic waste is an integral part of the domestic waste minimisation process to remove waste from the waste stream. The main objectives of this study were: to determine whether or not households participate in domestic waste reuse activities and the type of activities involved; where they receive information on waste reuse; the behaviour and attitude towards reuse and recommendations based on the findings of the study. This study adopted a quantitative approach describing suburban communities' attitudes and behaviour towards waste reuse. The investigation was non-experimental, cross-sectional and descriptive. Structured questions were used through a simple random sampling method. Results indicated that respondents reused domestic waste, their domestic reuse information was obtained from the media and internet, reusing of waste was a positive activity that would help future generations and it could help save money. Recommendations were made that formal programmes would assist residents to reuse waste efficiently and that government departments and environmental health practitioners should be better sources of information for reuse.

Keywords: domestic waste reuse; reuse activities; reuse behaviour; reuse attitude; waste minimisation; waste hierarchy; theory of planned behaviour; litter picking; household reuse.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2019.101280

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2019 Vol.24 No.2, pp.117 - 130

Accepted: 09 Dec 2018
Published online: 30 Jul 2019 *

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