The study established that the activities of scavengers (wastepickers) and itinerant buyers play an important role in the recovery of materials from the waste stream in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. It can be inferred from this study that some socio-demographic characteristics of an individual may influence their choice in making a living from scavenging. Scavenging represents an important survival strategy for less privileged individuals in the study area, and many others living in cities of developing countries in which individuals recover materials from waste to meet their needs. In the Greater Accra Region of Ghana, scavenging is a male dominated occupation and scavengers normally reside close to the recovery sites or dumpsites. Although scavengers are often