Ingwani, E.Chakwizira, J.Mutwanamba, Pfariso2025-11-192025-11-192025-09-05Mutwanamba, P. 2025. Spatial Planning Strategies to Improve Sustainable Household Solid Waste Collection Practices In Peri-Urban Villages Of Small Towns: A Case Study Of Thohoyandou In Thulamela Local Municipality, South Africa. . .https://univendspace.univen.ac.za/handle/11602/3042MURPDepartment of Urban and Regional PlanningGlobally, the generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) is rising at an alarming rate, with projections indicating an increase from 2.01 billion tonnes in 2016 to 3.40 billion tonnes by 2050. This surge, driven by urbanisation, population growth, and changing consumption patterns, presents a pressing challenge for developed and developing nations. Among the most critical components of MSW is household solid waste, which constitutes a significant share of total waste volumes and demands effective collection and management systems to safeguard public health and environmental sustainability. However, in many developing contexts, particularly in peri-urban areas, the delivery of solid waste collection services remains inconsistent, inefficient, and unsustainable. The study investigates how spatial planning principles can be leveraged to address systemic challenges in household waste collection. The research was guided by the following objectives: 1. Characterise the current household solid waste collection practices in peri-urban villages of Thohoyandou town. 2. Identify factors that impede sustainable household solid waste collection in peri-urban villages of Thohoyandou town. 3. Propose sustainable strategies for household solid waste collection practices in peri-urban villages of Thohoyandou town. A mixed-methods approach was used, combining qualitative and spatial data collection techniques. Primary data were gathered through field observations, semi-structured interviews, and household surveys, while secondary data included policy documents, spatial plans, and maps. The study applied spatial analysis tools to assess settlement patterns, road networks, and service coverage. The methodology enabled a detailed understanding of current collection practices and the spatial factors influencing their effectiveness. The findings reveal that irregular waste collection, limited municipal resources, poor road access, and scattered settlements significantly hinder sustainable household solid waste management in the study area. Moreover, the absence of spatial planning in waste management policy results in service inefficiencies and environmental risks. Therefore, the recommendations emphasise implementing local waste management policies, introducing municipal solid waste collection levies, formalising waste collectors, improving collection efficiency, promoting recycling, integrating new technologies, and adopting a data-driven approach for sustainable waste management. These strategies aim to address identified gaps in governance, infrastructure, and community engagement, enhancing overall service delivery in Muledane and Maniini. These insights have important implications for planners, policymakers, and local municipalities. Integrating spatial planning into waste management can promote service equity, environmental sustainability, and community well-being. This research contributes a practical framework for designing inclusive and sustainable household solid waste collection systems tailored to peri-urban contexts in small towns across South Africa and similar settings globally.1 online resource (xvii, 318 leaves): color illustrations, color mapsenSpatial planningHousehold waste wasteUCTDPeri-urban areasSustainable solid waste managementService deliveryDissertationMutwanamba P. Spatial Planning Strategies to Improve Sustainable Household Solid Waste Collection Practices In Peri-Urban Villages Of Small Towns: A Case Study Of Thohoyandou In Thulamela Local Municipality, South Africa. []. , 2025 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from:Mutwanamba, P. (2025). <i>Spatial Planning Strategies to Improve Sustainable Household Solid Waste Collection Practices In Peri-Urban Villages Of Small Towns: A Case Study Of Thohoyandou In Thulamela Local Municipality, South Africa</i>. (). . Retrieved fromMutwanamba, Pfariso. <i>"Spatial Planning Strategies to Improve Sustainable Household Solid Waste Collection Practices In Peri-Urban Villages Of Small Towns: A Case Study Of Thohoyandou In Thulamela Local Municipality, South Africa."</i> ., , 2025.TY - Dissertation AU - Mutwanamba, Pfariso AB - Globally, the generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) is rising at an alarming rate, with projections indicating an increase from 2.01 billion tonnes in 2016 to 3.40 billion tonnes by 2050. This surge, driven by urbanisation, population growth, and changing consumption patterns, presents a pressing challenge for developed and developing nations. Among the most critical components of MSW is household solid waste, which constitutes a significant share of total waste volumes and demands effective collection and management systems to safeguard public health and environmental sustainability. However, in many developing contexts, particularly in peri-urban areas, the delivery of solid waste collection services remains inconsistent, inefficient, and unsustainable. The study investigates how spatial planning principles can be leveraged to address systemic challenges in household waste collection. The research was guided by the following objectives: 1. Characterise the current household solid waste collection practices in peri-urban villages of Thohoyandou town. 2. Identify factors that impede sustainable household solid waste collection in peri-urban villages of Thohoyandou town. 3. Propose sustainable strategies for household solid waste collection practices in peri-urban villages of Thohoyandou town. A mixed-methods approach was used, combining qualitative and spatial data collection techniques. Primary data were gathered through field observations, semi-structured interviews, and household surveys, while secondary data included policy documents, spatial plans, and maps. The study applied spatial analysis tools to assess settlement patterns, road networks, and service coverage. The methodology enabled a detailed understanding of current collection practices and the spatial factors influencing their effectiveness. The findings reveal that irregular waste collection, limited municipal resources, poor road access, and scattered settlements significantly hinder sustainable household solid waste management in the study area. Moreover, the absence of spatial planning in waste management policy results in service inefficiencies and environmental risks. Therefore, the recommendations emphasise implementing local waste management policies, introducing municipal solid waste collection levies, formalising waste collectors, improving collection efficiency, promoting recycling, integrating new technologies, and adopting a data-driven approach for sustainable waste management. These strategies aim to address identified gaps in governance, infrastructure, and community engagement, enhancing overall service delivery in Muledane and Maniini. These insights have important implications for planners, policymakers, and local municipalities. Integrating spatial planning into waste management can promote service equity, environmental sustainability, and community well-being. This research contributes a practical framework for designing inclusive and sustainable household solid waste collection systems tailored to peri-urban contexts in small towns across South Africa and similar settings globally. DA - 2025-09-05 DB - ResearchSpace DP - Univen KW - Spatial planning KW - Household waste waste KW - Peri-urban areas KW - Sustainable solid waste management KW - Service delivery LK - https://univendspace.univen.ac.za PY - 2025 T1 - Spatial Planning Strategies to Improve Sustainable Household Solid Waste Collection Practices In Peri-Urban Villages Of Small Towns: A Case Study Of Thohoyandou In Thulamela Local Municipality, South Africa TI - Spatial Planning Strategies to Improve Sustainable Household Solid Waste Collection Practices In Peri-Urban Villages Of Small Towns: A Case Study Of Thohoyandou In Thulamela Local Municipality, South Africa UR - ER -