ABSTRACT
Townships face environmental and waste management challenges due to population growth, and inadequate infrastructure. Improper waste disposal, illegal dumping, and limited recycling initiatives contribute to environmental degradation. This study assesses the effectiveness of current waste management strategies in Soweto, and the potential of enhancing the infrastructure to support sustainable and inclusive environmental and waste management solutions. Deploying a case study design using a Qualitative approach, including bibliometric mapping, and semi-interviews, the research examines existing waste collection infrastructure, exploring innovative strategies for improvement. Findings reveal that while some waste management interventions have been implemented, factors such as insufficient waste collection services, lack of community engagement hinder their success. Further, there is a rise of informal waste reclaimers that assist in recycling efforts but operate under minimal proper infrastructure support. The study highlights the need for integrated infrastructure and sustainable waste management solutions. Additionally, the study recommends the developed strategic conceptual plan.
