A Disposable Diaper Collection Project in Langa, Cape Town, South Africa: A Pilot Study

Catherina Schenck (), Hugh Tyrrell, Lizette Grobler, Rissa Niyobuhungiro and Alexander Kimani
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Catherina Schenck: DSI/NRF/CSIR Chair in Waste and Society, University of the Western Cape, Bellville 7535, Western Cape, South Africa
Hugh Tyrrell: GreenEdge Consulting, Cape Town 7708, Western Cape, South Africa
Lizette Grobler: DSI/NRF/CSIR Chair in Waste and Society, University of the Western Cape, Bellville 7535, Western Cape, South Africa
Rissa Niyobuhungiro: DSI/NRF/CSIR Chair in Waste and Society, University of the Western Cape, Bellville 7535, Western Cape, South Africa
Alexander Kimani: Department of Geography, Environmental Studies and Tourism, University of the Western Cape, Bellville 7535, Western Cape, South Africa

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 10, 1-21

Abstract: In developing countries, there is currently no established waste management plan that includes resource recovery from used disposable diapers (DDs) apart from incineration and landfilling. In low-income areas with limited storage space, the complex composition and odour of used DDs make it impossible to manage properly if not supported by effective waste management systems. In the absence of effective waste management, DDs are dumped in open spaces, burned or buried. These actions pose threats to the safety and health of humans, animals and the environment. Separation and collection of DDs are critical preliminary steps to landfilling, recycling or beneficiation. In this article, we describe a case study of two pilot collection projects in Langa township in Cape Town, South Africa, to determine whether and how a source-separated collection system can work in low-income, resource-constrained areas. The lessons learned highlighted the following: The eagerness of parents to participate for the benefit of their own and their children’s health; the complementarity of the two pilot collection models to serve the needs of the community; the important role non-government organisations play in the implementation of waste management projects; the significance of the possible job creation opportunities and the unintended benefits of enhancing social cohesion. The financial sustainability of these projects needs further exploration.

Keywords: disposable diapers; nappies; collection models; early childhood centres; sustainable development goals (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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