The reclamation of recyclables in landfill sites has both negative and positive impacts, as these recyclables are recognised as valuable resources that support the livelihoods of underprivileged communities. However, waste pickers are exposed to different occupational health risks, harmful contaminants, and social problems. The aim of this study was to assess the environmental impact and occupational risks of solid waste reclamation by the waste pickers in Goudkoppies Landfill Site in Soweto, which has approximately 2 000 waste pickers. The study employed a convergent mixed-methods approach, purposively selecting 17 interview participants and randomly sampling 152 questionnaires administered to waste pickers, landfill officials, and buyback centre owners or managers. Data were also collected through site observations. Qualitative data were manually and inductively explored whilst the quantitative data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 2.9 (SPSS). The results showed that waste picking contributed positively by recovering recyclable materials, supporting the sustainable cleaning of the physical environment, and prolonging the landfill’s lifespan. However, the reclamation at the landfill site had negative environmental impacts, including littering, fire hazards and unsafe picking practices. The waste pickers were also exposed to dangerous occupational risks such as offensive odour, noise pollution, respiratory diseases, glass cuts and food poisoning. These conditions made the landfill site an unconducive working environment and posed serious threats to the health and lives of the reclaimers.
U vusuludzwa ha zwithu zwine zwa nga shumiswa hafhu fhethu hune ha laṱiwa hone mathukhwi zwi na masiandoitwa mavhi na avhuḓi, sa izwi zwithu izwi zwine zwa nga shumiswa hafhu zwi tshi dzhielwa nṱha sa zwishumiswa zwa ndeme zwine zwa tikedza matshilo a zwitshavha zwi si na zwishumiswa. Naho zwo ralo, vhathu vha kuvhanganyaho mathukhwi vha ṱangana na khombo dzo fhambanaho dza mutakalo musi vha tshi kho kuvhanganya mathukhwi, zwithu zwi tshikafhadzaho zwi re khombo, na thaidzo dza matshilisano. Nḓivho ya ngudo iyi yo vha i ya u sedzulusa masiandoitwa a mupo na khombo dza mushumo wa u vusuludzwa ha mathukhwi o khwaṱhaho kha vhadobeli vha mathukhwi ngei Goudkoppies Landfill Site khaḽa Soweto, hune ha vha na vhadobeli vha mathukhwi vha ṱoḓaho u swika 2 000. Ngudo iyi yo shumisa nḓila yo ṱanganaho ya u kuvhanganya muvhigo, nga nḓivho ya u nanga vhathu vho ḓidzhenisaho kha inthaviyu vha 17 na u khetha mbudziso dza 152 dzo ṋetshedzwaho nga vhane vha kuvhanganya mathukhwi, vhaofisiri vha fhethu hu no laṱiwa mathukhwi, na vhaṋe vha senthara dza u renga murahu mathukhwi kana vhalanguli vhahone. Data yo dovha ya kuvhanganywa nga kha u ṱola fhethu ha u laṱelwa mathukhwi. Data ya vhuimo yo ṱoḓisiswa nga zwanḓa na nga nḓila ya u ṱuṱuwedza ngeno Data ya tshivhalo yo senguluswa hu tshi shumiswa Phasela ya Zwisiṱatistiki ya Saintsi ya Matshilisano ane sia ḽavha 2.9 (SPSS). Mvelelo dzo sumbedza uri u dobela mathukhwi zwo shela mulenzhe nga nḓila yavhuḓi nga u vhuisa zwishumiswa zwine zwa nga shumiswa hafhu, u tikedza u kunakisa hu bveledzaho ha mupo, na u engedza vhutshilo ha fhethu ha u laṱela mathukhwi. Fhedziha, u vusuludzwa ha fhethu hune ha laṱiwa hone mathukhwi zwo vha na masiandoitwa mavhi kha mupo, hu tshi katelwa na u laṱekanya mathukhwi, khombo ya mulilo na maitele a u dobedza mathukhwi a songo tsireledzeaho. Vhathu vhane vha kuvhanganya mathukhwi vho dovha vha bviselwa khagala nga khombo dza u dobela mathukhwi dzi ngaho munukho u vhaisaho, tshikafhadzo ya phosho, malwadze a u fema, u tsheiwa nga ngilasi na u ṱangana na zwiḽiwa zwine zwa vha na mulimo. Hezwi zwiimo zwo ita uri fhethu hune ha laṱiwa hone mathukhwi hu vhe fhethu hu si havhuḓi ha u shuma, nahone mutakalo na matshilo a vhane vha vusuludza mathukhwi a khomboni.
Ku hlengeletiwa ka switirhisiwa leswi nga tirhisiwaka hi vuntswa eswivandleni swo lahlela malakatsa eka swona swi nga va na switandzhaku swa kahle na swo biha, tanihi laha switirhisiwa leswi swi tekiwaka swi ri swa nkoka ni ku tlhela swi hlayisa vaakatiko va miganga leyi nga le vuswetini. Hambiswiritano, vanhu lava tirhaka ku rholela malakatsa ya switirhisiwa va ti kuma va ri vari khombyeni ro khomiwa hi mavabyi yo hambana hambana, va nga ti kuma va khome swilo leswi nga na khombo swin'we ni swiphiqo swin'wana leswi va nga hlanganaka na swona hi ku khoma minchumu leyi. Xikongomelo xa ndzavisiso lowu a ku ri ku kambela switandzhaku leswi nga va ka kona eka mbango xikan’we ni makhombo lawa fambelanaka na ku tlhela ku hlengeletiwa switirhisiwa leswi exivandleni xo lahlela malakatsa xa Goudkoppies eSoweto, laha ku nga ni vanhu va kwalomu ka 2 000 lava rhwalelaka rholela malakatsa ya switirhisiwa. Ndzavisiso lowu wu tirhisile maendlelo yo hlanganisa mindzavisiso yo hambana hambana hambana-hambana, laha ku hlawuriweke 17 wa vanhu lava va nga vutisiwa swivutiso swa mayelana na ndzavisiso naswona 152 wa swivutiso swa nkambisiso lowu hleriweke (ku nga phepha ra swivutiso) wu nyikiwile vanhu lava tirhaka ku rholela malakatsa ya switirhisiwa, vatirhi va le swivandleni leswi swa malakatsa, xikan’we na vafambisi lava tirhaka hi ku xavisa switirhisiwa leswi nga tirhisiwaka hi vuntswa kumbe valawuri va swivandla leswi. Ndzavisiso wu tlhele wu endliwa hi ku tirhisa endlelo ra vuxiyaxiya bya swiendlo swa vanhu lava tirhaka ku rholela malakatsa ya switirhisiwa eka xivandla lexi xo lahlela malakatsa. Endlelo ra ndzavisiso wa nkoka wu hleriwile handle ko tirhisa switirhisiwa swa nkambisiso naswona mindzavisiso ya ntalo yi hleriwile hi ku tirhisa xitirhisiwa xa Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) xa nkandziyiso wa 2.9. Mimbuyelo ya ndzavisiso lowu yi kombisile leswaku swi kahle ku rholela malakatsa ya switirhisiwa leswi nga tirhisiwaka hi vuntswa, na ku hlayisa no basisa mbango, xikan’we no tiyisisiwa vumundzuku lebyi faneleke bya swivandla leswi swo lahlela malakatsa ya switirhisiwa. Hambiswiritano, ku tlhela hi hlengeleta malakatsa ya switirhisiwa leswi nga lahliwa swi na mimbuyelo yo biha eka mbango, leswi katsaka ku vanga thyaka, makhombo ya ndzilo xikan’we na mixungeto leyi nga va ka kona hikokwalaho ko hlengeleta switirhisiwa handle ko tirhisa vurhon’wana. Vanhu lava va tirhaka ku rholela malakatsa ya switirhisiwa va tlhele va langutana ni makhombo yo hlangana ni risema leri nga tsakisiki, ni mpongo pongo ra switirhisiwa, ni mavabyi lawa fambelanaka na ku hefemula, va tsemiwa hi tinghilazi na ku ti kuma va dyile swakudya leswi nga ni chefu. Swiyimo leswi swi endlile leswaku swivandla leswi ku lahliwaka malakatsa ya switirhisiwa eka swona swiva swivandla leswi nga hlayisekangiki naswona swi va swi ri swiri na khombo lerikulu eka rihanyo ni vutomi bya vanhu lava tirhaka ku hlengeleta switirhisiwa leswi nga tirhisiwaka hi vuntswa.
