Executive Summary
Marketplaces are significant hubs in the battle against plastic bag pollution due to the high volume of people they attract. This policy brief utilized interviews employing qualitative methods to gather data. A total of 45 individuals, comprising 30 sellers and 15 buyers, were interviewed in Bago. As for finding, plastic bag users are unwilling to change their plastic bag consumption even though they know the environmental issues of using plastic bags because they have many challenges to face. Furthermore, this study revealed that on average, a single seller uses 1.9 kg of plastic bags per day and 57 kg per month. Extrapolating from this, the estimated monthly plastic bag usage in the marketplace amounts to 1.487 tons, a substantial figure. Hence, marketplaces play a pivotal role in mitigating plastic bag pollution. The study suggests that Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) should conduct regular awareness campaigns at these venues to educate participants on the environmental impact and health hazards associated with plastic pollution. And to raise public awareness of its imperative to emphasize that such negative consequences infringe upon human rights.
