Lagos bans single-use plastics with ‘immediate effect’

Lagos State government has declared a decisive ban to take place with immediate effect on the usage and distribution of styrofoam and other single-use plastics.

The announcement, made by Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources in the state, is in response to the environmental and health hazards posed by these non-biodegradable materials.

Styrofoam, a trademarked brand of closed-cell extruded polystyrene foam (XPS), serves various purposes, including building insulation on walls, roofs, and foundations.

Often used as water barriers, it is also a common material for disposable plates, frequently seen at eateries and used by caterers.

Wahab emphasized the urgent need for the ban, stating, “Following the menace which single-use plastics, especially non-biodegradable Styrofoam, are causing on the environment, the Lagos State government through the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources is hereby announcing a ban on the usage and distribution of Styrofoam and other single-use plastics in the State with immediate effect.”

The ban aims to address the severe environmental impact of single-use plastics, which are often used briefly before being disposed of, contributing to pollution and clogging drainage channels and canals in Lagos.