A new study suggests that Ghana’s public education campaigns on littering could be more effective by highlighting both increased bin usage and community support for proper waste disposal.

The research, published in the 2025 edition of Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology, comes as littering continues to plague major cities across the country.

Authored by Kwaku Sarpong Danso, MA; Taylor Ann Foerster, PhD; and Rain Wuyu Liu, PhD, the study, titled “Examining Anti-Littering Intentions in Ghana Through the Theory of Normative Social Behavior and the Influence of Dynamic Norms,” investigated the factors influencing responsible waste disposal.

Researchers conducted in-person surveys with 527 adults in Accra during August 2024, approaching participants in markets, malls, along major roads, and in suburban areas. The study revealed that Accra alone generates over 3,000 metric tons of waste daily, with an estimated 40% ending up as litter.

The findings indicate that simply informing people that “many others use bins” isn’t enough to change behaviour. However, combining this information with the message that “the community expects responsible disposal” significantly strengthens the intention to use bins.

“Messages were stronger when they worked as a pair—combining what people are doing and what people expect,” the study found.

Importantly, the research also highlighted the role of personal and health motivations. Participants were more likely to commit to using bins when they believed it protected their health and offered personal benefits.

The authors recommend that future anti-littering campaigns in Ghana emphasize the growing adoption of good waste disposal practices, reinforce community expectations, and clearly link proper disposal to tangible health and personal advantages. This multi-faceted approach, they believe, will yield more positive results in tackling the country’s litter problem.

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