Literature research was conducted to become familiar with different types of plastic waste, their impacts on ecosystems and methods of how to characterize plastic waste. In addition, the students started to systematically study the most polluted areas of Yaoundé and identify the main actors in the plastic waste management: Producers (companies), consumers (households), recyclers (associations or companies) and farmers. Further, two training sessions were organized with the students at the University of Yaoundé to discuss, among other things, different data collection processes and methodologies.

The actual data collection took place over a period of eight days for the household surveys (435 households), three days for the businesses and associations involved in plastic waste management, and again three days for the survey of farmers whose agricultural work is affected by plastic pollution. In a total of 25 zones, a total of 250 kg of plastic waste was collected and the impact of the waste on the environment is recorded by means of photos and measurements of air, soil and water quality. In addition, the project team collects samples of the plastic waste to analyse which types of plastic are most frequently found in the waste.