Environmental and Public Health Effects of Plastic Packaging Debris in Accra, Ghana: Assessing a Policy Role for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

Exponential growth in urban populations has steadily transformed the volume and composition of wastes generated in developing countries in the past few decades. One of the most visible aspects of such transformation is the ubiquity of plastic packaging residues in the waste stream. In many cities in the developing world, the use of polythene bags for packaging everyday commodities such as; food, drinking water and groceries is commonplace, resulting in the generation of massive volumes of plastic debris on a regular basis. In juxtaposition however, the waste management milieu is characterized by a myriad of inefficient practices including; poor collection; open dumping and rudimentary incineration practices. Against this backdrop, the present study examined the environmental and potential public health impacts of plastic packaging in Ghana. The study was undertaken in the Accra Metropolitan Area, the capital and largest city in Ghana which covers a total land area of almost 200 square kilometres and a population of over four million people including permanent residents and daily commuters. Data was collected by means of interviews, informal group discussions, site observation as well as a comprehensive review of official government documents. The findings depict an entrenched culture of plastic packaging resulting in the generation of debris on a regular basis. In juxtaposition, the management of such debris is characterized by a high degree of ineffectiveness, resulting in pollution of ecosystems in the study area. The consumption of water packaged in mini plastic sachets in particular raises major public health concerns around contamination and the possibility of transmitting infectious diseases such as cholera. Further, current regulatory arrangements were found to be vague and incomprehensive and fail to delineate the issue of plastic packaging debris.