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Analysis of characteristics, activities, and exposure to vermin of human landfill scavengers in a developing nation

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  • Ernest Kimbugwe

    (Texas Southern University)

  • Olurominiyi O. Ibitayo

    (Texas Southern University)

Abstract

Scavengers, an important and legitimate group especially in developing countries, seem to have been virtually ignored by local municipalities in formulating solid waste management policies. Using researcher-administrated survey and semi-structured interviews, this study provides comprehensive information about human landfill scavengers in Kampala, Uganda, a developing nation. The results showed that the human scavengers consider waste picking as a full-time employment and not as a transitory form of urban employment. Also, the scavengers live in residential areas and not in squatter villages around the landfill. Scavengers’ exposure to flies is noted to be relatively high. The respondents do not engage in fierce competition involving pushing one another and that they often leave the collected items on the landfill without the concern of having the materials stolen. The relatively high level of trust among the scavengers can serve as a spring board for establishing scavengers’ cooperatives.

Suggested Citation

  • Ernest Kimbugwe & Olurominiyi O. Ibitayo, 2014. "Analysis of characteristics, activities, and exposure to vermin of human landfill scavengers in a developing nation," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 34(2), pages 358-365, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:envsyd:v:34:y:2014:i:2:d:10.1007_s10669-013-9466-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s10669-013-9466-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Martin Medina, 2010. "Solid Wastes, Poverty and the Environment in Developing Country Cities: Challenges and Opportunities," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2010-023, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    2. Peter Nas & Rivke Jaffe, 2004. "Informal Waste Management," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 6(3), pages 337-353, September.
    3. Medina, Martin, 2010. "Solid Wastes, Poverty and the Environment in Developing Country Cities," WIDER Working Paper Series 023, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    4. Martin Medina, 2008. "The Informal recycling Sector in Developing Countries : Organizing Waste Pickers to Enhance their Impact," World Bank Publications - Reports 10586, The World Bank Group.
    5. Birkbeck, Chris, 1978. "Self-employed Proletarians in an informal factory: The case of Cali's garbage dump," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 6(9-10), pages 1173-1185.
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    Cited by:

    1. Aryampa, Shamim & Maheshwari, Basant & Sabiiti, Elly N. & Bateganya, Najib L. & Olobo, Christopher, 2022. "Understanding the impacts of waste disposal site closure on the livelihood of local communities in africa: A case study of the kiteezi landfill in Kampala, Uganda," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 25(C).
    2. Hao Yu & Wei Deng Solvang, 2017. "A multi-objective location-allocation optimization for sustainable management of municipal solid waste," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 37(3), pages 289-308, September.

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