A study on plastic waste generation and disposal habits in riverside and coastal households towards the promotions of reducing plastic leakage into the ocean in Da Nang City, Vietnam

The issue of marine plastic contamination has been raising concern for a long time. Despite the difficulties Vietnam faces, there are relatively few studies related to the assessment of potential leaked plastic sources into the marine environment. A large amount of marine debris was predicted to come from land-based plastic waste sources in coastal areas with high population densities. This research provides the data on the amount of daily generated plastic waste, behaviors and perception on plastic waste in riverside and coastal households in Da Nang City, Vietnam. The results indicate that the waste generation rate was 311.1 g/cap/day of which plastic waste accounted for 18%. Plastic bags were frequently used and discarded at the highest rate due to its convenience and accessibility. Meanwhile, the rate for plastic bags separation is relatively low (36.1%). Single-use plastic for food stuffs and beverage is also a problem with highly frequent use. Instead, the rate of willingness to participate in reducing plastic bags usage is quite positive (approximately 70%). To address these challenges, this study discusses on the policies and emphasises the importance of campaigns to minimise the consumption of single-use plastic at source, the education and outreach programs to modify disposal habits, etc.