Piecing Plastic Puzzles: Exploring the complex web of catchment-scale macroplastic pollution

Summary

Many of the world’s most polluted rivers are in the Global South, yet these regions are often limited with field data needed to fully understand and address the problem. My research focused on the Odaw river in Accra, Ghana, where I studied how macroplastics (plastic items > 5mm) move through the catchment by collecting data from the river, riverbanks, and surrounding land. I examined how natural factors like rain, wind, and river flow, as well as anthropogenic factors such as waste management and population, influence plastic pollution levels. I also engaged local stakeholders in the plastic lifecycle to identify practices that contribute to the most polluting plastic items in the catchment. By combining field data with local insights, this research identifies the main causes and spatial-temporal patterns of plastic pollution in the Odaw. The findings support improved waste management in Accra and contribute to improving riverine plastic pollution global models.