Plastic Waste Transport from the Nile River and its Major Tributaries into the Marine Environment

Due to several factors such as rapid urbanization and population growth, the amount of plastic consumption in Africa has been steadily increasing. When coupled with a weak waste management infrastructure, the result is an enormous amount of mismanaged waste. This could pose a concern especially for countries in the Nile Basin since mismanaged waste may often end up in the Nile River and subsequently, the Mediterranean Sea. To mitigate the plastic pollution problem, it is important to understand existing municipal solid waste management systems (MSWMS) and practices, driving legislative frameworks, and sources of waste generation.