Opinion: Who truly bears the cost of plastic pollution?

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While plastic is often seen as cheap and convenient, its true cost falls disproportionately on low- and middle-income regions, says Valentine Onditi. He notes that high-income nations reap the benefits of production and consumption, while communities like Africa’s bear the brunt of environmental degradation, health risks, and economic losses from waste they contribute little to producing.

• Mr Onditi is a circular economy advocate and Head of Marketing at Jirani Recyclers Kenya, a waste management company that transforms polythene bags into meaningful products.

• He argues that addressing plastic pollution requires more than recycling: It demands systemic change through circular economy practices, equitable responsibility, and global cooperation to ensure the hidden costs of plastic are shared fairly.

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