. Waste is buried at landfill sites as a method of disposal. Various waste kinds are accepted by general dump sites, including building and garden trash, commercial and non-hazardous industrial waste, and domestic waste. South Africa particularly Mpumalanga Province has a high unemployment rate especially women and youth and a lack of finances is experienced by many members of the communities, especially in rural areas. Data on the state of the landfill, and types of waste generated that have the potential to be recycled, were recorded to assess if recycling could be increased to relieve the economic burden of the poor communities. Attention was paid to the following aspects: assessing the current status of each landfill and identifying the types of waste generated in the area that ended up at the landfills. The extent of recycling and the waste handling and disposal of the waste were recorded. Non-compliance with the prescribed legislative guidelines was noted and aspects such as the state of the landfills and noncompliance of industrial waste were also observed and proper enclosure, recycling, and products being recycled were identified and recorded. The waste disposal practices at most landfills were poor and very limited recycling was taking place. None of the landfills in the province complied with the minimum requirements for landfilling. Recommendations to improve waste disposal and identification of products with recycling potential were made. Alternative waste strategies which could be economically beneficial. Effective management of waste and the promotion and management of recycling activities are necessary for sustainable and liveable cities This article aims to describe the approaches used on 6 landfills in South Africa to manage waste pickers’ access to recyclables and their daily activities on the landfills. A multiple-case study design and cross-case analysis were used in this study.