Prevalence of plastic waste as a household fuel in low-income communities of the Global South

Anecdotal evidence suggests that households burn plastics to manage waste and help satisfy their energy demand. To examine the prevalence, extent, and reasons for using plastic waste as household fuel, we report on a survey with 1018 key informants from cities in 26 countries in the Global South. Informants were purposively selected due to their familiarity with the living conditions in their communities. One-third of respondents reported being aware of plastic waste burning, with some reporting that their households engaged in this practice. Analyses of the data reveal significant correlations of plastic waste burning with both supply factors, such as, the massive amount of waste generated (p = 0.000), expensive clean fuels (p = 0.004), and demand factors, including self-management of waste (p = 0.000). Expanding essential public waste management services and implementing programs that enhance the affordability of clean energy technologies, especially among marginalized and low-income communities, could reduce this health- and environment-damaging practice.

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Publication Details

Journal
Nature Communications
Published
2026-01-08
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-67512-y
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Municipal Solid Waste Management
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
35.31
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Prevalence of plastic waste as a household fuel in low-income communities of the Global South

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Municipal Solid Waste Management
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article

Prevalence of plastic waste as a household fuel in low-income communities of the Global South

Margaret Banga, Fèmi E. Hounnou, Telesphore Kabera, Philip Kofi Adom, Marc Jeuland, Madina Guloba, Victoria Ndinelago Erasmus, Ian D. Gates, Sadikou Agbere, Chinnathan Areeprasert, Ulemj Damiran, Monjit Borthakur, Tara D. Gates, Pramesh Dhungana, Chizoba Obianuju Oranu, Gilbert Mubalama Mugisho, Bishal Bharadwaj, Aminath Shazly, Bakary Conteh, Bijeesh Kozhikkodan Veettil, Nyaladzani Nkhwanana, Sizwe D. Mabaso, Jessika Bohlmann, Hope Nyambura Njoroge, Raeesa Moolla, Rajesh Kumar, Esther Minayo Ishuga, Ernoiz Antriyandarti, Gabriel Enrique De-la-Torre, Peta Ashworth, Darcy E. Glenn, Ayşe Lisa Allison, Alice Kammwamba, Hari Vuthaluru, Yacob Mulagetta, Sarva Mangala Praveena, Dinushika Madhushani Yapa Abeywardhana, Wasso Dieudonné Shukuru, Sobia Rose, Keophousone Phonhalath, Witness Dlamini
article en
1 citations

Abstract

Anecdotal evidence suggests that households burn plastics to manage waste and help satisfy their energy demand. To examine the prevalence, extent, and reasons for using plastic waste as household fuel, we report on a survey with 1018 key informants from cities in 26 countries in the Global South. Informants were purposively selected due to their familiarity with the living conditions in their communities. One-third of respondents reported being aware of plastic waste burning, with some reporting that their households engaged in this practice. Analyses of the data reveal significant correlations of plastic waste burning with both supply factors, such as, the massive amount of waste generated (p = 0.000), expensive clean fuels (p = 0.004), and demand factors, including self-management of waste (p = 0.000). Expanding essential public waste management services and implementing programs that enhance the affordability of clean energy technologies, especially among marginalized and low-income communities, could reduce this health- and environment-damaging practice.

Nature CommunicationsVol. 17(1)
University of Peradeniya (LK), University of Nigeria (NG), Sebelas Maret University (ID), University of Nairobi (KE), Public Policy Institute of California (US), Universiti Putra Malaysia (MY), Mongolian University of Science and Technology (MN), Tribhuvan University (NP), University of Botswana (BW), Strathmore University (KE), University of Calgary (CA), University of Eswatini (SZ), University of Canterbury (NZ), Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PK), University of the Witwatersrand (ZA), Kasetsart University (TH), Curtin University (AU), Lupane State University (ZW), Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola (PE), Fisheries Agency (TW), University of Rwanda (RW), Maldives National University (MV), Department of Science and Technology (IN), International University of Management (NA), Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (MW), Cotton University (IN), Economic Policy Research Centre (UG), MRC Unit the Gambia (GM), Ashesi University (GH), Université d'Abomey-Calavi (BJ), Van Lang University (VN), Duke Institute for Health Innovation (US), Université Evangélique en Afrique (CD), University of Lomé (TG), National University of Laos (LA), University College London (GB), University of Pretoria (ZA), Makerere University (UG)
Openalex Percentile: Top 2%
Municipal Solid Waste Management
35.31
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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