Recycling of polyethylene: an attempt to sachet and bottled water sustainability in Ghana

The millennium development goals (MDG) target 7c was set with the aim of reducing the percentage of global population without access to improved water sources in rural and urban communities by half. Sachet and bottled water have contributed to the achievement of this noble objective especially in developing countries such as Ghana. Polyethylene (PE) has been the major material employed in packaging the product. However, there is a dilemma for the fact that PE has toxic ingredients which are detrimental to both environment and biological matter. Fortunately, these negative effects can be minimized through recycling. The aim of this work was to review literature on the conventional techniques of recycling plastics in general and PE in particular, as a packaging material for sachet and bottled water. Issues dealt with include environmental and public health challenges; recycling legislation; recyclates; recycling processes; cost-benefit analyses of recycling; and the way forward.