Plastic waste is no longer just litter on roads or behind homes. In many cities of the Global South, it is being burned as fuel inside households. A recent international study titled “Prevalence of plastic waste as a household fuel in low-income communities of the Global South” collected information from over 1,000 people across 26 countries. The research found plastic burning inside homes is common, often hidden and not well recorded. About one-third of those surveyed said they knew homes where plastic was burned. The practice usually happens alongside burning wood or charcoal. People use plastic bags, packaging, or other waste to start or keep fires going, especially when no other fuel is available. Rapid urban growth in low- and middle-income countries creates informal settlements with limited waste collection. Plastic waste piles up because services do not reach many neighbourhoods. Burning plastic becomes a habit more than a choice. Clean energy fuels are often too expensive or unreliable. Electricity and gas may not be affordable or consistent. Wood and charcoal are harder to find and cost more in cities. In contrast, plastic waste is free and easily available, making it an easy but dangerous fuel option. Burning plastic releases toxic smoke harmful to health. These toxins pollute air, food, soil, and water. Though people know plastic burning is harmful, the slow and invisible effects are often ignored. Diseases and contamination from these toxins are hard to link directly back to burning plastic. Data on this issue is limited. National surveys rarely ask about plastic as fuel. The study depended on people knowledgeable about local conditions, not just households, which restricts exact conclusions. Still, similar stories from different places show a shared problem. Laws banning open burning and improper plastic disposal exist in many countries. However, enforcing these rules is difficult. Expanding waste systems and making clean energy affordable take time. Meanwhile, many households continue to burn plastic waste to clear space and keep fires burning because better choices are not nearby. This risky practice quietly persists as cities grow faster than waste and energy solutions.