Use of plastic packaging in street restoration and sanitation in west african cities: The case of Lomé

Abstract

West African cities have experienced rapid and continuous demographic and spatial expansion for several decades with the development of new lifestyles and restaurants. Street catering, in the quest to meet the food needs of the urban population, uses plastic packaging. In this informal sector, the use of this packaging has harmful effects on the sanitation system in West African cities, including Lomé. This article highlights the use of plastic packaging in street food and its impact on sanitation in Lomé. To do this, a survey was carried out among 225 street consumers chosen from 45 points of sale, selected by reasoned choice in the urban agglomeration of Lomé. Street food consumers are mainly civil servants (40%) and traders (35.11%). 75% of consumers are men and 82.5% of restaurateurs are women. Plastic packaging is used in the packaging of street food in Lomé. Having become waste after use, plastic packaging is not subject to special management. A categorization of waste at source will lead to efficient management for better sanitation in our cities.