Plastic waste is harming livestock in South Africa: smallholder farmers using communal land set out the support they need

In rural Mpumalanga, South Africa, plastic waste has become a toxic addition to the grazing environment—and to livestock diet. Research with forty smallholder farmers found that during dry seasons, when fresh grass becomes scarce, cattle and goats eat plastic bags, wrappers, and bottles, causing digestive blockages, weight loss, and in severe cases, death. One farmer reported losing seven cows to plastic ingestion in a single year. The problem persists because waste collection is inadequate, illegal dumping is widespread, and grazing land has shrunk, forcing livestock into polluted areas. The Conversation reports that while ninety-five percent of farmers recognize the danger and want to reduce plastic use, they lack alternatives and institutional support. Real solutions require coordinated action: better municipal waste management, stronger recycling programs, crackdowns on illegal dumping, access to veterinary services and animal feed, and community education—each a role for government, traditional leaders, researchers, and farmers together.

Listen to this story

Hear this and more stories in a personalized audio briefing.

Open The Chonkerton