Investigating students’ perceptions of single-use plastics at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

Single-use plastics have become interconnected with human populations globally, yet, studies on plastic pollution and practices have predominantly been conducted outside Africa. This study explored perceptions of single-use plastics at the University of the Witwatersrand, with 1398 respondents in an online survey and 18 in a solicited diary during 2019. Despite social media and research exposure amongst university students, only 57% of respondents were familiar with the term single-use plastics. However, respondents displayed considerable pro-environmental attitudes relating to plastic pollution and recycling. These attitudes did not translate into pro-environmental behaviour in daily life, whereby 88% of respondents believed that single-use plastics are used with too many products, yet, only 22% avoid products which incorporate them. Respondents faced constraints in their pro-environmental behaviour relating to recycling infrastructure, re-use and the expense of alternative products. Negative perceptions exist towards single-use plastics in South Africa due to their ubiquitous pollution and presence in daily consumption practices. Increased pro-environmental behaviour provides an opportunity to curb plastic pollution and rethink consumption patterns. However, changing attitudes alone to stem the tide of plastic consumption and pollution will be meaningless without supportive recycling infrastructure from the government and reduced single-use, non-recyclable plastic production.