Constraints Facing Metal Waste Pickers in OR Tambo District Municipality: Barriers and Pathways to Inclusive Circular Economy Livelihoods

Abstract

Metal waste pickers are central to South Africa’s circular economy, yet their livelihoods remain precarious and poorly supported. This paper draws data from a study that investigated the socio-economic and institutional conditions shaping metal waste picking in OR Tambo District Municipality, a rural-urban district in the Eastern Cape. A mixed-methods design was employed, combining a structured survey (n = 102), semi-structured interviews, and direct observation through time-location sampling. Guided by the sustainable livelihoods framework, the analysis identifies three major constraints: (i) occupational health risks; (ii) low and highly unstable incomes; and (iii) fragmented governance. Additional challenges include lack of storage, exposure to weather, and competition from municipal clean-ups. The paper proposes a sequenced set of interventions: short-term measures to improve safety and health; medium-term cooperative development and transparent pricing mechanisms; and long-term legal recognition, regulated access to collection sites, and integration into social protection schemes. By providing novel district-level evidence from a rural-urban South African context, the study contributes to the debates on informality, inclusion, and circular economy transitions. Implemented together, these measures can strengthen livelihoods, reduce vulnerability, and advance more inclusive and just circular economic systems.