LIVE UPDATES
The Lagos State Government has presented justification for banning the use of styrofoam and single-use plastics across the state.
According to reports, a statement signed by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, stated that styrofoam and single-use plastic will be banned throughout the state with immediate effect.
The commissioner revealed the decision was made in response to the environmental threat posed by single-use plastics, particularly non-biodegradable styrofoam.
He claimed that despite regular cleaning and evacuation of massive volumes of styrofoam, most drainage lines in the state remained choked on a daily basis.
The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency noted on Tuesday in a post on its X account that, in addition to being non-biodegradable, styrofoam is "very difficult to recycle and takes 500 years to decompose."
The agency stated that styrofoam is the main pollutant in oceans and causes havoc on marine life. Styrofoam contains the chemical styrene, which has been linked to diseases like cancer, Parkinson’s, vision and hearing loss, and impaired memory, among others.”
“Styrofoam is considered the fifth largest component of hazardous waste and is considered the primary source of urban litter."
LASEPA advised residents to use alternatives to styrofoam, such as paper packaging products, aluminum foil, reusable plastics, and bamboo products.
