Comparative assessment of household plastic waste segregation, disposal practices, and recycling awareness in Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Zambia

The global increase in plastic usage has highlighted the urgent need for sustainable waste management practices, especially in developing countries. Research indicates that shifting from a linear “take-make-dispose” model to a circular system could mitigate the growing plastic waste issue. This study comparatively assesses household plastic waste generation, segregation, and disposal practices and their implications for plastic packaging recycling systems in Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Zambia—three Sub-Saharan African countries facing significant plastic waste challenges. This study employed quantitative research methods. Data were collected from households and individuals in Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Zambia using a structured questionnaire containing open-ended and closed-ended two-point Likert scales. The sample comprised 216 respondents, distributed across the three countries: Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Zambia. The data collected was then validated and analyzed using statistical tools such as the Chi-square test and the Kruskal-Wallis H test, and descriptive statistics. The findings indicate that while households in these countries are generally willing to segregate waste, substantial barriers remain. These include limited awareness of recycling symbols, inadequate waste segregation infrastructure, and insufficient economic incentives. Most households dispose of plastic waste in garbage bins, with burning as the second most common method. Also, interventions such as household goods exchange for plastic waste, segregation buckets, and periodic visits by officials could effectively increase household waste segregation. The study concluded that while there is no significant difference between the three countries regarding the effectiveness of interventions like household goods exchange for plastic waste and segregation buckets, there is a clear need for better regulations, monitoring, and management of plastic waste.