Testing of a Novel, Low Cost Method To Identify Plastic Resins Used for Production of Food and Beverage Packaging in Kisumu, Kenya, and Greater Accra, Ghana, 2022

This data set comprises outcomes of tests and observations conducted to establish the viability of a low-cost method developed to determine the plastic resins used to produce plastic food and beverage packaging. The data were gathered with two aims. First, we aimed to establish whether the outcomes of simple tests and observations were consistent when made by different observers, and secondly we aimed to establish if the observations and tests resulted in the correct identification of resins. Samples comprised rigid packaging items (polyethylene terephthalate, high density polyethylene or polypropylene) and flexible items (polypropylene or low density polyethylene). Data include discrete outcomes of individual observations and tests, plastic resin identification outcomes based on observations and tests, and indication of which outcomes led to correct identification of the resin to hand.