The legislative framework governing waste management defines the State as the key player and does not recognize informal waste collection in South Africa. There is inconsistency between this framework and the practice on the ground regarding waste collection. While the framework puts the State at the centre, the reality on the ground is that of the lack of specific policy directed at waste recycling. Thus, this gap which was supposed to be overcome by the State has been filled by an informal waste collection enterprise. This paper carries out a critical review of the legislative framework and reveals how it fails to take into account the reality of informal waste collectors who need to be empowered and formalized as they cover for the limits and failures of the State in Greater Johannesburg. The data for this research were collected through questionnaire survey, focus group discussion as well as interviews in order to understand informal waste collectors’ social profile, types of waste collected, recycling approaches, challenges facing them as well as their spending patterns. The results show informal waste collectors in Braamfontein, Killarney and Newtown suburb of Johannesburg, who originated locally from South Africa and from other neighbouring countries such as Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The types of waste collected include: metal, plastic and glass as well as paper, but this varied from one area to another. The findings here are consitent with research elsewhere which shows that if well organized and supported by government and other stakeholders, waste collection and management can contribute positively in many aspects including jobs creation, poverty reduction, conserve natural resources and protect the environment as well as in empowering grassroots investment. Bibliogr., sum. [Journal abstract]
