Why Takeaway Packs And Other Single-Use Plastics Was Banned In Lagos

Lagos State Commissioner of Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, on Sunday, January 21, 2024, announced a ban on the use of single-use plastic, particularly non-biodegradable Styrofoam, often referred to as takeaway.

Wahab announced that the decision was reached “following the menace which single-use plastics, especially non-biodegradable Styrofoam, are causing on the environment and the Lagos State government.”

Lagos, Nigeria’s economic hub, with a population of over 20 million, is regarded as one of the worst cities to live in globally. According to EUI’s 2023 Global Liveability report, which ranked cities based on five categories, including culture and environment, Lagos emerged as the fourth worst city to live in the world.

Reason For The Ban

In 2023, Mathias Schmale, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, noted that Nigeria used over 1.5 million metric tons of plastic each year, with Lagos alone using and disposing about 10 million plastic bags. The Government of Lagos said the total plastic generated annually sits around 870,000 tonnes, constituting about 15 percent of the total waste generated in the State.

Wahab noted that most drainage channels in the state are daily clogged up by Styrofoam, which ultimately leads to flooding experienced during rainy seasons in many parts of the State. He added that the indiscriminate distribution and usage of Styrofoam caused the State “humongous amounts.”

Implication of the ban

Relying on the National Environmental (Sanitation and Waste Control) Regulation 2009, which was established pursuant to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) Act, prohibiting the use of plastic in the country, the State will clamp down on all the production companies and distribution outlets for Styrofoam with the aim of preventing further distribution.

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Wahab explained that the State relied on enabling laws like the National Environmental (Sanitation and Waste Control) Regulation 2009, established pursuant to the NESREA Act that prohibits and specifically bans single-use plastic in the country but has not been enforced.

Styrofoam packs, also known as expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam, are made from a lightweight and rigid plastic material called polystyrene. Due to their low cost, buoyancy, and thermal insulation capabilities, Styrofoam packs are commonly used for packaging materials and disposable food service containers. It is also used in serving food during Nigerian weddings and other occasions. Although they are in high demand, Styrofoam packs are non-biodegradable with huge environmental impacts.

“Our state cannot be held hostage to the economic interests of a few wealthy business owners compared to the millions of Lagosians suffering the consequences of indiscriminate dumping of single-use plastics and other types of waste,” Wahab said.