Category: <span>Outputs Explained</span>

Exploring food shopping habits in Ghana versus Kenya: how well is Kenya’s plastic carrier bag ban working?

There are pronounced waste policy differences between the two Water and Waste study countries, Ghana and Kenya. Ghana has a large-scale sachet industry selling water in plastic bags, which supplies most urban households with their main drinking-water source, but generating a plastic waste stream in doing so.

Transect-based quantification of mismanaged waste in off-grid urban neighbourhoods

Numerous methods exist for quantifying mismanaged waste in the environment. One such method which is rapidly gaining scientific acceptance is the use of Transect Surveys. For decades, Transect Surveys have been used to shed light and provide insights that help scientists to understand the characteristics of complex natural environments.

Balancing the convenience benefits of disposable diapers with their waste management challenges in off-grid cities

Though diapers are largely considered a hygienic and convenient means of faecal disposal, managing used diaper waste present a complex set of challenges to both households and city authorities. This is because as diapers are made from a mix of polypropylene and polyethylene plastic sheets, cellulose and a superabsorbent polymer to absorb urine .

Should we value the contribution of informal plastic waste collectors to society?

Access to safe drinking water and proper waste management remains a challenge in many LMICs. In bridging the gap, many other alternatives have been adopted. In Accra, one of West Africa’s largest and fastest growing cities for instance, safe drinking water has been made accessible through the sale of drinking water in plastic bags (Sachet) and bottles. Also, informal waste collectors who are private individuals provide waste collection services and play a vital role in the plastic recycling sector and waste management in Accra. This study engaged informal waste collectors among Ghana’s Off-Grid Urban Populations in Greater Accra.