Impact of Sachet Water and Plastic Bottle Waste on Agricultural Land in the Ada East District of Ghana

Abstract

The main aim of this research was to create awareness on the negative effects that indiscriminate disposal of sachets and plastic bottle waste have on the agricultural land at Ada East district of Ghana. The study was conducted in the Ada East district of Ghana., between February 2015 and July 2015. Simple random sampling techniques were used to sample 50 households out of 350 households in the study area. The study used questionnaires and interviews. Structured questionnaires were prepared to generate primary data from the respondents. Interviews with key informants were additional means used to elicit primary data. Secondary data were also studied, acquired from different reports, published documents from the internet and data from the Department of Agriculture. The collected filled questionnaires were tabulated and analyzed with the help of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. (SPSS). It was observed that 56% of the population were female, and 44% had not received any formal education. The study identified that 54% of the population were farmers. It was further revealed that 76% of the respondents consumed sachet water as it served as the main sources of drinking water in the area. The daily water intake in the area was 1 litre and this was practiced by 56% of the population. It was also revealed that plastic waste generated in the area has little or no alternative uses. The area lacked provisions for waste management; therefore 44% of the respondents littered the plastic waste on the environment. The absence of public education, waste management legislation and organized waste management services in the area contributed to the increased indiscriminate littering of waste on the environment and affected agricultural land, resulting in low productivity in the area. It was recommended that there should be public education on plastic waste management, investment in recycling of plastic waste, and a premium on plastic waste collection and waste bins should be made available for waste collection in public places.