Review of landfill impacts on informal waste-pickers and surrounding communities in Africa (2015-2022)

Abstract

The content nature and features of studies conducted in Africa relating to landfill impacts on informal waste pickers and surrounding communities are not known. Research trends and focus on studies conducted between 2015 and 2022 are also unknown. Currently there is no document which consolidated studies conducted in Africa relating to the impacts of landfill on informal waste pickers and surrounding communities published between 2015 and 2022, which in turn may guide future research direction. Epistemology which determined the researcher’s choice of the study method, how data was collected, analysed as well as how findings were interpreted was the philosophy which grounded this study. Epistemology shaped the researcher’s view of the world, the nature of knowledge, and determined how this knowledge was shared with others. The method used for this study was a systematic literature review. The identified and included studies were manually analysed using an inductive and iterative approach for qualitative data analysis. The findings from the reviewed studies indicate that informal waste pickers in landfills are faced with different occupational injuries including cuts, punctures, and animal bites. With regard to negative health outcomes, the studies reported that skin problems, respiratory ailments, and eye infections were associated with the trade of waste picking in landfills. Documented musculoskeletal problems faced by informal waste pickers included, back, chest and joint pains. Studies reported that surrounding communities were also negatively affected by landfills. The landfill location, air and water pollution were among documented concerns. The most prevalent health challenges reported within communities included cancer, malaria, asthma, and various skin and respiratory issues. This review identified research gaps which need to be further explored to ensure that the impacts of landfills on informal waste pickers and surrounding communities in Africa are wholistically investigated. It is recommended that more studies be conducted in other African countries since the reviewed studies focused more on South Africa and Nigeria.