‘Drinking and Dropping’: On Interacting with Plastic Pollution and Waste in South-Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria is reported as having released up to 0.34 million tonnes of plastic debris into the ocean in 2010 and ranked ninth country in the world for pollution of the marine environment.It is a postcolonial, oil rich country where plastic is cheap and widely available. Currently there is no government policy regulating single use plastic products. Previous studies have identified university student residential areas as 'hot spots' for plastic waste. We used qualitative methods (focus groups and semi-structured interviews) to explore how students made sense of their single use plastics consumption (including 'pure water' plastic sachets) and analysed how young Nigerians interact with plastic waste. Students perceived plastic waste as malodorous, causing harm to human health and blighting environmental aesthetics.Students saw themselves as the cause of plastic pollution (as consumers) whereas plastic industries were framed positively as producers bringing progress and prosperity. Participants were open about their indiscriminate littering practices subverting other study findings where responsibility tends to be deflected (to policy makers, producers). While we are relying on self-reported behaviour, we found no obvious link between awareness of environmental harm caused by plastic pollution and students' actions. Within this peer group of young Nigerians, it was not considered 'normal' or 'cool' socially to use waste bins or recycle. We suggest that further research is needed into how plastic pollution is made sense of in terms of lay understandings of miasmas; perceptions of public/private spaces and plastics as a signifier of modernity and enhanced social status.

Global perceptions of plastic pollution: The contours and limits of debate

“…In similar vein, tourists and residents in Vietnam accepted single-use plastics bags, straws, and cups because 'you take what you're offered' (Kerber and Kramm, 2022). The social meaning of single-use 'pure water' sachets was also identified in a qualitative study of young Nigerians (Henderson and Dumbili, 2021). The historical links between the government and Western-owned oil companies may mean that lack of producer accountability and blame attached to consumers reflects cultural norms and powerful enduring (post)colonial systems which fuel the idea of plastics as intertwined with modernity (Henderson and Dumbili, 2021).…”

“…The social meaning of single-use 'pure water' sachets was also identified in a qualitative study of young Nigerians (Henderson and Dumbili, 2021). The historical links between the government and Western-owned oil companies may mean that lack of producer accountability and blame attached to consumers reflects cultural norms and powerful enduring (post)colonial systems which fuel the idea of plastics as intertwined with modernity (Henderson and Dumbili, 2021). The appropriate management of plastic pollution is dominated by Western frameworks where waste management is inextricably linked to judgements about 'civilisation' and 'morality' which are rooted in colonial perspectives (Liboiron, 2021).…”

Strategic management of plastic pollution in Nigeria: Balancing best approaches

“…From another angle, health challenges could arise from the incineration of plastics at refuse dumps. Incineration has been linked to the deterioration of mental, physical and emotional health of residents living around the area [43] . Incineration could also lead to air pollution which will cause inhalation of foreign substances.…”

“…The introduction of strict penalties will also help implement the regulation of plastics. In Kenya, a ban on the production, sale and use of plastics was introduced in 2017 [50] , a violation of which can attract a fine of up to 4 million Kenyan shillings or 4 years imprisonment. This is a penalty strict enough to deter people from violating the regulations.…”