Investigating household behaviour towards recycling: a case study in the town of Vryheid- Bhekuzulu

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate household awareness and willingness towards recycling. The study was limited to Vryheid and Bhekuzulu a small town situated in the Northern parts of Kwazulu-Natal. The empirical study investigated demographic variables such as gender, ethnicity, household size and income as it relates to current recycling participation as well as willing to participate in future recycling initiatives. The study aimed to be representative of most of the Vryheid and Bhekuzulu area and questionnaires have been handed out to low-, mediumand high-income households of each area. The number of respondents accumulated to 757 households in total. Sampling was stratified over the income spectrums (low, medium and high), and initially a grid was drawn to facilitate a random sampling procedure, however, during the execution of the study, questionnaires were delivered and received based on the availability of respondents. An extensive literature review was conducted on municipalities in the continents of Asia, Europe, North America and Africa to provide context to the current study. In certain cases, the results of this study have been similar to what was found elsewhere, but in other cases it has contradicted the results of other studies. Results found that all variables, except household size, have been statistically significant in current recycling participation. All variables pertaining to willingness of households to recycle, were statistically significant. The study area was generally characterised by low levels of awareness regarding recycling practices and initiatives.