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Emergence of plastic pollution on tourism beaches in Zanzibar, Tanzania
Summary
Researchers documented the emergence of significant plastic pollution on tourism beaches in Zanzibar, Tanzania, finding plastic items — particularly single-use packaging — as the dominant type of litter. The findings highlight the growing threat of marine litter to coastal tourism economies and ecosystems in East Africa.
Plastic pollution is becoming a growing concern on tourism sites. Unquantified amounts of plastic materials are discharged into coastal waters and have detrimental effects on local marine environments. With the expansion of the tourism industry, waste increasingly originates from tourism activities and ends up into the ocean due to poor management of solid waste post-consumption. This study explores the source, amount, and type of waste materials in Zanzibar, Tanzania by surveying tourism activities, littering behaviors, and existing solid waste facilities. The analysis illustrates the relationship between waste management and tourism sectors. Data were obtained through interviews, one focus group, and observations at four tourism sites. Findings suggest that plastics waste is produced to a considerable extent by tourists. Especially, improper littering practices and limited engagement of stakeholders from the tourism sector into the waste regulation framework are major predictors of leakage of plastic into the ocean. Based on the findings, this study demonstrates the need for littering policy to reduce marine littering.