Learning Brief – Rethinking rubbish: Initiatives for waste management and reduction in South Africa

South Africa’s waste problem is a threat to environmental, human and social well-being. Overflowing landfills are polluting our air and water, damaging our ecosystems, and making us sick. The legacy of apartheid means that people living in informal settlements, usually on the outskirts of cities, have both the highest exposure to dumpsites and the poorest access to waste removal services. However, if we reframe the way we look at waste, it can become a source of value that we can reinvest in our shared thriving.