Illegal waste disposal in selected protected areas of the Cape Flats, South Africa

Abstract

People tend to litter with little thought of the effects of their waste on the environment and the overall health of humanity. The production of waste is an unavoidable consequence of most processes. The after-effects of the “I don’t care” ideology by individuals are one of the main reasons for indiscriminate waste disposal in the environment. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), a specific category of waste, when left in the environment unattended to; carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ammonia, hydrogen sulphide, and particulate matter amongst others are generated over time, and can easily enter the environment or emitted into the air or discharged into water bodies. The study aims to assess the impact of illegal solid waste disposal in Wolfgat Nature Reserve and Macassar Dunes Conservation Area located around the Cape Flats. This project will bring forth solutions to minimise waste disposal that is detrimental to the environment through qualitative research. Many studies focus on the issue of MSW dumping on open land resources due to rapid population growth and urbanisation whereas little is known about the indiscriminate dumping of MSW on protected land resources due to rapid population growth and urbanisation, thus the interest in the study areas. Possible solutions to be thought of will add to preliminary data obtained from a pilot study. Furthermore, partnering with Nature Reserve to tackle environmental and waste education at schools and surrounding communities. Lastly, public awareness about waste to members of the community to address indiscriminate waste disposal in the community and in the reserve.