By Lebone Rodah Mosima
More than half of South African households burn their waste every week or every two weeks, exposing children to harmful air pollution and increasing health risks, according to Hold My Hand Organisation, which has launched a national public awareness campaign promoting better waste management.
Earlier this week, Hold My Hand, in partnership with Create Change, an initiative of the DG Murray Trust (DGMT), urged South Africans to reduce, reuse and recycle waste as part of its Waste Not campaign.
The campaign supports the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), which places children and young people at the centre of South Africa’s development agenda and promotes their involvement in environmental protection and pollution prevention.
“‘Waste Not’ encourages individuals to take action — big or small — to reduce waste in their communities, particularly as waste removal services in South Africa remain uneven and unequal,” the organisation said.
It noted that only about six in 10 households receive weekly refuse collection, with some communities serviced even less frequently.
The organisation said regular waste collection helps reduce environmental pollution and limits the spread of disease. When waste accumulates, however, it contaminates water sources, attracts rodents and other disease carriers, and blocks stormwater drains, increasing the risk of flooding during heavy rainfall.
DG Murray Trust Communications Director Rahima Essop said environmental health and children’s wellbeing are closely linked.
“The link between children’s health and environmental health is evident — when the environment is unhealthy, children suffer,” Essop said.
She said children in informal settlements and rural communities are particularly vulnerable, as they often play near illegal dumping sites and are exposed to toxic fumes from burning waste.
Repeated exposure to infections caused by poor waste management can also impair children’s ability to absorb nutrients and weaken their immune systems.
“Children who are malnourished and get repeated stomach bugs are at higher risk of stunting because their ability to absorb nutrients is compromised,” Essop said.
“Preventing infections through proper waste removal, together with effective water and sewage management, is one of the environmental pathways to tackling stunting.”
According to Hold My Hand, South Africa generates about 122 million tonnes of waste annually, including household refuse, with the majority ending up in landfill sites that are increasingly reaching capacity.
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The organisation said addressing the problem requires coordinated action by government, businesses, civil society and households.
Essop said reducing waste generation must begin with manufacturers.
“Companies must stop producing so much packaging and products that end up in dumps, such as single-use plastics and disposable products,” she said.
“That is why regulations require plastic and packaging companies to take responsibility for the waste they generate.”
The organisation also called on municipalities to prioritise regular refuse collection, particularly in underserved and rural communities, while investing in recycling infrastructure.
It noted that only 10.5% of South African households currently separate recyclable packaging from general household waste.
Hold My Hand Social Mobilisation Lead Mesuli Kama said communities can make a meaningful contribution by replacing disposable products with reusable alternatives, participating in clean-up initiatives, encouraging neighbours to recycle and repurposing household items.
“This is precisely what the Waste Not competition is encouraging people to do by highlighting the type of action that is already taking place in communities,” Kama said.
The organisation said national waste management strategies have long recognised the importance of public awareness campaigns to reduce littering and illegal dumping. However, it argued that many initiatives place too much responsibility on individuals while failing to address broader systemic challenges, including excessive production of non-recyclable packaging and inadequate municipal waste collection and recycling infrastructure.
“The Waste Not competition is different. It does not blame people but instead encourages individual action — and that is what leadership is about,” Kama said.
