An analysis of the institutional and policy challenges for the sustainable management of AHP waste in South Africa: Lessons from the Polokwane Local Municipality of Limpopo Province

The management of Absorbent Hygiene Products (AHPs) is a critical aspect which requires comprehensive attention by various stakeholders including local government authorities. While existing literature has systematically and comprehensively identified the challenges of AHP waste in residential areas, little attention has been given to understanding its associated management problems at the level of institutional and policy frameworks. This paper, using methods inspired by the tradition of qualitative research explores challenges which hampers the sustainable management of AHP from an institutional and policy contexts focusing on Polokwane Local Municipality. It is urged in this paper that the lack of financial resources including deficiencies in institutional coordination, legislation and physical infrastructure presents major challenges for the sustainable management of AHP in Polokwane Municipality and South Africa as a whole. These challenges have been analyzed within the broader framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly goal numbers 3, 6, 12, 13, 14 and 15.