Plastic Debris Management Strategies for Coastal Communities in Bayelsa State

Plastic debris pollution in coastal communities of Bayelsa State, South South Nigeria, represents a growing public health, environmental, and livelihood crisis exacerbated by inadequate solid waste management infrastructure and high consumption of single-use plastics. This study evaluates the effectiveness of existing plastic debris management strategies in three coastal local government areas of Bayelsa State: Brass, Nembe, and Southern Ijaw, and proposes practical management improvements tailored to the social, economic, and infrastructural realities of riverine communities. Data are collected through household surveys (n=300), waste characterisation studies at community dumpsites, key informant interviews with local government waste management officers, and focus group discussions with women's fishing cooperatives and youth associations. Waste generation rates, plastic composition by polymer type, and waste disposal behaviours are quantified. The environmental exposure pathways from terrestrial waste into adjacent creeks and estuaries are documented through field reconnaissance and water surface debris counts along creek transects. Policy analysis examines the implementation gap between Nigeria's National Policy on Solid Waste Management and local government practice. Findings are expected to reveal that informal waste picking and burning are the dominant disposal methods, contributing to atmospheric and aquatic plastic pollution. Extended producer responsibility mechanisms targeting sachet water manufacturers are identified as high-priority interventions. Recommendations include community-level segregated waste collection systems, cooperative recycling enterprises, and a Bayelsa-specific plastic reduction by-law. Keywords: plastic debris management, Bayelsa State, solid waste, riverine communities, single-use plastics