Lagos, Nigeria, has implemented a ban on single-use plastics, and recent enforcement operations have led to the confiscation of now-illegal Styrofoam products across various retail and trading locations.
According to Tribune Online, while the single-use plastic ban was enacted in July, intel was given to the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) that traders were ignoring the law. The Styrofoam that was confiscated totaled N2.5 million (or almost $1,700).
Following the enforcement operations, the LAGESC's Corps Marshal Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun "reaffirmed that the Ministry of Environment's decision to implement the ban on July 1 was necessary for the sake of environmental protection," as reported by Tribune Online.
Reducing plastic waste is vital. When this material is created, it is nearly impossible to eliminate. The World Wildlife Fund explains just how problematic single-use plastics are, with plastic straws taking up to 200 years to decompose, and plastic water bottles taking up to 450.
Furthermore, with thinner plastics, like the ones banned in Lagos, the potential for the items to break down and create microplastic pollution is high. As microplastics have detrimental impacts on the human body, bans that help keep these items out of our environment are key.
With Styrofoam, also known as expanded polystyrene, chemicals that are added to the mix, including flame retardants and phthalates, add a major exposure risk for people.
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In Delaware and Oregon, similar bans on Styrofoam went into effect in the last few years, with places across the world catching on to the negative health and environmental risks of this and other single-use plastics.
By using reusable to-go containers, you can reduce your reliance on Styrofoam and other single-use plastics and keep your food from encountering potentially toxic substances.
To uphold the ban in Lagos, the Lagos State government has implemented strict repercussions for those who ignore the rules.
The LAGESC Corps Marshal reiterated the importance of not using Styrofoam products, emphasizing that these single-use containers "have no recycling value due to their non-biodegradable nature, which harms the environment," as reported by Tribune Online.
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