Although the past decade has witnessed increased awareness of and efforts to implement integrated
solid waste management in African cities, a chronic urban waste problem endures. Further, ‘end of pipe’
interventions remain dominant and popular with city administrators and there seems to be little
appetite for policies towards comprehensive globally approved waste reduction, recycling and separation
of waste at source that are critical to an effective integrated solid waste management system. Following a
review of literature and complemented by field notes, this paper examines the willingness of urban
households to participate in expanded at source waste separation in Bulawayo, Lusaka and Mombasa. It
presents empirical evidence of household readiness to engage in such programs thus highlighting an
untapped potential that policy makers should make use of in expanding urban solid waste recycling and
waste reduction programmes in Eastern and Southern Africa. Such programmes would align well with
emerging low carbon economies.