HomeNewsWhy Lagos Banned Styrofoam Packs, Nylon Bags, Disposable Cups, and Other Single-Use...

Why Lagos Banned Styrofoam Packs, Nylon Bags, Disposable Cups, and Other Single-Use Items

The Lagos state government has commenced full-scale enforcement of its ban on single-use plastics below 40 microns.

The banned items include styrofoam packs, plastic straws, disposable plastic cups and cutlery, and lightweight nylon bags, all flagged for their environmental and health hazards.

This move has elicited a flurry of reactions.

According to the state government, the move is aimed at tackling environmental degradation and promoting sustainable living, targeting Styrofoam food packs, plastic straws, lightweight nylon bags, disposable cups, and plastic cutlery.

The government also allayed job fears, saying that the initiative would create more jobs for producers and distributors who embraced the safe options.

Checks by The Nation show that Lagos aligns with a growing list of over 70 countries and major cities that have adopted similar bans or restrictions on single-use plastics since Bangladesh became the first to do so in 2002.

Further checks revealed that Nigeria remains one of the world’s top plastic polluters, generating more than 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, according to a recent USAID report. Over 70 per cent of that waste ends up in landfills and waterways.

Also, the federal government, in June 2024, announced a ban on single-use plastics in all government offices, as part of a phased plan toward a nationwide restriction. However, enforcement at the national level has lagged.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, while responding to a complaint from a user on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, July 4, noted that the move was to protect the future of the state.

He said, “While I empathise with the situation, I can tell you that for 18 months before implementation, we engaged in extensive stakeholder consultations, meeting manufacturers, market unions, and environmental experts.

“We conducted scientific studies showing plastic bags daily clogging Lagos drains, while marine biologists documented plastic toxins in our lagoon fish populations. In those 30 years you mentioned, a sizeable amount of the nylon sold by Mummy ended up in the drainage systems, clogging the drains.        

“Some ended up in landfills, and it doesn’t decompose easily; nylons take about 500 years to decompose, and so unfortunately, every nylon sold within that 30 years is somewhere in our environment, causing damage to our health and living.

“The Ministry of Commerce facilitated partnerships with local producers of reusable bags to ensure affordable access. A phased Producer Responsibility Scheme gave manufacturers transition time to adapt operations.

“When evidence showed persistent non-compliance despite warnings, we instituted the ban with clear grace periods. This was never abrupt – it was Lagos protecting its future after exhausting all collaborative avenues.”

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