Mapping plastic waste entry points into the riverine environment

• Plastic item categories have distinct entry pathways into the riverine environment. • All plastic waste entry points are found in the post consumption stages. • Highest contributing plastic waste practices to MPW are related to consumers. • Informal sector are key in recyclable plastic waste collection and distribution. • Plastic waste entry depends on governmental, economic, and behavioural factors. Mismanaged plastic waste (MPW) is a major source of plastic pollution in rivers, particularly in regions with insufficient waste management infrastructure. Despite prior studies on MPW drivers, the entry points of MPW into riverine environments across the lifecycle of specific plastic items have not been assessed. This study addresses this gap by analyzing the lifecycle of the three most polluting plastic items, drinking water sachets, small bottles, and expanded polystyrene (EPS) food packaging in the Odaw catchment, located in Accra, Ghana to identify their critical entry points into the riverine environment. The Odaw is known for its high contribution to environmental plastic pollution due to the high anthropogenic activities, coupled with its inadequate waste management systems. Using a qualitative methodology, interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with 15 stakeholders involved in production, retail, consumption, waste management, and regulation across the plastic lifecycle. Data collected through audio recordings, were transcribed and analysed through inductive content analysis approach in ATLAS.ti. The findings reveal that all MPW entry points occur during post-consumption stages, with four of eight identified practices classified as high-impact. EPS packs was not recovered for recycling, bottles were exported overseas for recycling, and water sachets recovery faced challenges due to the low market prices and limited recycling capacity. This highlights the catchment’s limited recycling infrastructure. The study provides localized insights for targeted mitigation strategies and support targeted monitoring efforts. Furthermore, it offers a replicable methodological framework for regions with limited waste operations data, serving as a baseline for data-rich regions.