A new survey reveals that the domestic burning plastic waste is widespread in cities across the Global South, a practice employed to dispose of waste, cook food, heat homes, light fires and keep insects away
The study, undertaken by Australia’s Curtin University, surveyed 1,018 key community informants across 26 low- and middle-income countries.
They found that one-third of respondents were aware of plastic being burned for energy in their cities, while 16% reported burning plastic in their own households, primarily for cooking and heating. The practice was most prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa and in low-income countries.
The burning of plastic burning is partly driven by a lack of waste management services, leading to massive amounts of unmanaged plastic waste and also by the lack of affordable clean fuels such as electricity or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)
The most commonly burned items were found to be food wrappers and drink bottles made from plastics like PET and polyethylene, which are often burned in traditional three-stone or charcoal stoves.
Co-author, Professor Hari Vuthaluru explained the risks: ‘When PVC is burned, it releases highly toxic dioxins and furans, which are among the most dangerous pollutants known.
‘These compounds persist in the environment, accumulate in the food chain and can cause serious health problems including cancer, reproductive disorders and immune system damage.
‘PVC ranks as the third most commonly burned plastic, which is extremely concerning.’
Co-researcher Dr Pramesh Dhungana adds: ‘This isn’t just theoretical: studies near plastic burning sites have found toxic compounds in eggs and soil samples.
‘When plastic burns near homes and food preparation areas, these toxins can settle on crops, enter water sources and accumulate in foods, creating a hidden health crisis for communities already facing significant challenges.’
Respondents to the survey are largely aware of these dangers, with 62% agreeing it was ‘extremely likely’ to cause toxic emissions and air pollution. However, a lack of awareness of the full health impacts was also cited as a key reason the practice continues.
Lead researcher Dr Bishal Bharadwaj, from the Curtin Institute for Energy Transition (CIET), said: ‘This is an issue that has largely been happening out of sight in communities and been difficult to get accurate data on, however this survey provides additional insights into what is going on.
‘When families can’t afford cleaner fuels and have no reliable waste collection, plastic becomes both a nuisance and a last-resort energy source. We found evidence of people burning everything from plastic bags and wrappers to bottles and packaging, just to meet basic household needs.
‘The practice is far more widespread than anyone realised, but because it happens in marginalised communities and is often hidden, it has escaped meaningful global attention despite the severe risks to health and the environment.’
The full research can be read here.
Photo: Omotayo Kofoworola / Unsplash
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