Enhancing Circular Economic Activities of e‐Waste Pickers in South Africa: Using Korten's Four Generations Strategies as Framework

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Main Authors: Takunda Y. Chitaka, Catherina Schenck, Jochen Petersen
Format: Artículo Open Access
Published: Wiley 2025
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author Takunda Y. Chitaka
Catherina Schenck
Jochen Petersen
author_facet Takunda Y. Chitaka
Catherina Schenck
Jochen Petersen
Takunda Y. Chitaka
Catherina Schenck
Jochen Petersen
collection Wiley Open Access
contents Enhancing Circular Economic Activities of e‐Waste Pickers in South Africa: Using Korten's Four Generations Strategies as Framework Takunda Y. Chitaka Catherina Schenck Jochen Petersen Sustainable Development ABSTRACT E‐waste pickers play a valuable role in the circular economy and divert waste from landfills. Despite their contributions to the economy, informal e‐waste pickers work in very adverse conditions. With a view to improving their livelihoods and working conditions and possibly increasing their integration, Korten's four generations framework is used as theoretical lens. A total of 814 surveys were completed across South Africa. The main findings highlight the collecting, dismantling and sorting and pre‐processing activities. The main motivation for the individual participants to move beyond collection was monetary: the more processed the goods, the higher the price. Despite exposing themselves to hazardous practices during pre‐processing, the majority of respondents were still earning below the minimum wage level. Korten's four generations of strategies are found to provide valuable guidance on how to think and act when supporting e‐waste pickers towards increased integration in the waste systems and the circular economy. 10.1002/sd.3532 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
doi_str_mv 10.1002/sd.3532
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institution Wiley Open Access
license_str_mv http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
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publisher Wiley
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spellingShingle Enhancing Circular Economic Activities of e‐Waste Pickers in South Africa: Using Korten's Four Generations Strategies as Framework
Takunda Y. Chitaka
Catherina Schenck
Jochen Petersen
Sustainable Development
Enhancing Circular Economic Activities of e‐Waste Pickers in South Africa: Using Korten's Four Generations Strategies as Framework Takunda Y. Chitaka Catherina Schenck Jochen Petersen Sustainable Development ABSTRACT E‐waste pickers play a valuable role in the circular economy and divert waste from landfills. Despite their contributions to the economy, informal e‐waste pickers work in very adverse conditions. With a view to improving their livelihoods and working conditions and possibly increasing their integration, Korten's four generations framework is used as theoretical lens. A total of 814 surveys were completed across South Africa. The main findings highlight the collecting, dismantling and sorting and pre‐processing activities. The main motivation for the individual participants to move beyond collection was monetary: the more processed the goods, the higher the price. Despite exposing themselves to hazardous practices during pre‐processing, the majority of respondents were still earning below the minimum wage level. Korten's four generations of strategies are found to provide valuable guidance on how to think and act when supporting e‐waste pickers towards increased integration in the waste systems and the circular economy. 10.1002/sd.3532 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
title Enhancing Circular Economic Activities of e‐Waste Pickers in South Africa: Using Korten's Four Generations Strategies as Framework
topic Sustainable Development
url https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/sd.3532