Plastic waste in the East African Community (EAC): status, discharge, contamination, and mitigation strategies

• Plastic Waste in the East African Community (EAC) is evaluated. • Status, Discharges, and Contamination are explored. • Suggestions for controlling and mitigating plastic waste are delineated. • Challenges and future research priorities for sustainable solutions are proposed. The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organization comprising seven partner states: Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. EAC has a rapid urbanization, population growth, and increasing plastic consumption. Despite policy efforts and bans on single-use plastics in some member states, inadequate waste management and limited recycling initiatives hinder effective plastic waste reduction. Although plastic waste and microplastics pose significant pose significant concerning risks, there is currently no comprehensive review detailing their prevalence, mitigation strategies, and health impact within EAC. This review explores the status and gaps regarding plastic waste in EAC countries, its discharge to the ocean, and microplastic contamination in EAC water bodies. It highlights the existing mitigation strategies to address plastic waste. Furthermore, suggestions for controlling and mitigating plastic waste are delineated, outlining both conceptual aspects and practical approaches. Strengthening regional cooperation, improving waste management systems, and promoting sustainable alternatives are crucial for tackling plastic waste. Through educational outreach and campaigns, coupled with the development of non-toxic plastic alternatives and the implementation of effective disposal or recycling strategies, can yield numerous advantages for the use of plastic materials in everyday human life, given their affordability and versatility. Further investigations are needed to detect microplastics and nanoplastics in water bodies across the EAC, as existing research remains limited.