Lagos State Government has announced ban on the use of Styrofoam plastic pack and other single use plastic packs popularly called “take away” in local parlance, with immediate effect across the state.
The ban was contained in a press statement on Sunday, signed by the State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, which was made available to Nature News.
The statement directed the State’s Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), to start enforcement of the ban immediately.
Importantly, the Commissioner asked LAWMA and KAI to clamp down on all the producing companies and distribution outlets for Styrofoam pack to prevent further distribution of the product and condemned the eyesore that indiscriminate dumping of Styrofoam caused to Lagos Environment.
According to Wahab, most drainage channels and secondary water collectors in Lagos are daily clogged up by used Styrofoam packs in spite of huge amount of fund being expended on clearing blocked drainage across the state.
He said the larger chunk of littering across major roads and markets that LAWMA contends with on daily basis is largely made up of used Styrofoam packs nothing that no responsible government will fold its arm and watched continuous desecration of its environment.
However, Wahab explained that the decision on the step taken by the state government against Styrofoam was reached following regular reports on menace the used Styrofoam packs are causing to Lagos Environment.
He further stated that the state government took the step relying on several enabling laws and regulations.
Among the enabling laws and regulations mentioned are the National Environmental (Sanitation and Waste Control) Regulation, 2019, which was established pursuant to the NASREA Act, and which specifically banned single-use plastic in the country.
Other laws include the 2017 Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, which state thus under section 56 (1) (y), “prevent, stop, or discontinue any activity or omission that is likely to cause harm to human health or the environment.
In the mean time, Wahab advised producers of the banned Styrofoam pack, their distributors as well as end users to take the ban seriously and find the alternatives or risk heavy fine and other penalties which include outright sealing of the producers’ premises.
He also warned that offenders could be made to bear the costs of daily cleaning of used Styrofoam packs from Lagos roads and drainage channels which runs to tens of millions of naira on daily basis.
The Commissioner equally advised consumers of Styrofoam packs in Lagos to boycott the product including other single-use plastic packs noting that the well-known consequences of these products especially during the rainy season.
He, therefore, enjoined people of Lagos to imbibe the practice of using reusable food containers and water bottles for their foods and drinks.
