Regardless of the Lagos State Authorities’s ban on using styrofoam containers for meals packaging, PUNCH Healthwise’s findings have revealed how some evening meals distributors in several elements of the state ignored the ban and proceed to make use of single-use plastics.
A latest investigation by our correspondent revealed that some meals distributors working at evening, significantly these promoting in style avenue meals like rice, and noodles, amongst others, have been nonetheless utilizing styrofoam containers to bundle meals for his or her clients.
PUNCH Healthwise just lately visited some locations in Ikeja, Oshodi, Surulere, and Mushin the place it was found that a few of these evening meals distributors, who arrange their stalls and carts on avenue corners have discovered methods to bypass the ban.
In January, the state authorities introduced its choice to ban the use and distribution of styrofoam and different single-use plastics throughout the state.
The choice was reached following the menace that single-use plastics, particularly non-biodegradable styrofoam, have been famous to be inflicting within the atmosphere.
The state Commissioner for the Surroundings and Water Assets, Tokunbo Wahab, acknowledged that the marketing campaign towards environmental vandalism would begin with the ban on polystyrene (popularly often called Styrofoam), microbeads, service baggage, plastic spoons, straws, and disposable cups as a result of they don’t have recyclable potential.
The commissioner famous that drainage networks have been typically clogged as a result of reckless disposal of non-biodegradable gadgets, whereas roads and markets are littered regardless of the perfect efforts of the Lagos State Waste Administration Authority.
Shortly after the ban, the Ministry of Surroundings launched into an enforcement train by visiting markets throughout totally different native authorities areas within the state to grab the styrofoam meals packs.
Regardless of the ban and enforcement train carried out recurrently by the state authorities, PUNCH Healthweise found that some evening meals distributors continued to make use of them, citing the excessive value of options.
A number of the meals distributors argued that the comfort and affordability of styrofoam outweigh the regulatory pressures.
“We’ve got been utilizing Styrofoam containers for years, and we will’t simply cease due to the ban, particularly when there aren’t any cheaper options for us.
“Our clients are used to getting their meals in these containers as a result of it’s cheaper and inexpensive”, stated one of many meals distributors within the Oshodi space of the state.
One other meals vendor working within the Mushin space at evening, added that the choice containers are too costly for a lot of clients.
“It’s harmful to make use of nylon to promote meals due to various things they’ve been saying about it. Lots of our clients can’t afford to purchase plastic containers on the worth of N200 per one.
“Everyone knows how this financial system is and the way individuals attempt to lower prices. A few of them simply need to get the meals and hurriedly go to their home to eat it. So, they don’t need to waste cash on getting a plastic container that might not be helpful afterward,” she famous.
One other meals vendor in Surulere, Olufemi Adewale cited the prohibitive value of options as a significant component in his choice to proceed to make use of styrofoam meals packs.
He defined, “Styrofoam packs are low-cost. The options like biodegradable containers, value nearly thrice as a lot. For a enterprise like mine, the place revenue margins are already tight, that’s an enormous enhance and lots of of our clients are usually not able to adapt to the change, particularly since we promote at evening.
“Lots of my clients are already combating the excessive value of residing, and we must always make one thing cheaper and inexpensive for them.”
Environmental advocates, nevertheless, expressed considerations over the continuing use of styrofoam regardless of the ban.
They argued that the persistence of those practices undermines the efforts to enhance environmental sustainability in Lagos.
The President of the Africa Environmental Well being Organisation, Afolabi Abiodun, referred to as for extra sustainable options to single-use plastics and styrofoam, suggesting using reusable containers comprised of supplies like glass, metallic, and biodegradable plastics.
He added, “Individuals discard this plastic or single-use plastic materials indiscriminately, and these identical plastics discover their approach into our drainage system, block the drainage system throughout rainfall, thereby inflicting flooding.
“When it blocks the water move, it serves as a platform for mosquitoes to breed, creating malaria for individuals.
“Utilizing plastics in no matter kind, both in minute amount or no matter amount could cause most cancers which is one other well being implication of this plastic waste we’re speaking about.
“Lagos state authorities banning using plastics or single use of plastics is a good suggestion; it’s a welcome concept and we want it right now of local weather change subject.”
Abiodun suggested the federal government to embark on enforcement with the best schooling, stressing the significance of sensitising the individuals on the risks the merchandise pose to the atmosphere.
On his half, a professor of Polymer Chemistry on the Federal College of Oye Ekiti, Dosu Malomo, acknowledged that the federal government wants to maneuver swiftly to advocate options for the banned single-use plastic and Styrofoam.
Malomo famous that to deal with the impacts that single-use plastics and Styrofoam have on the atmosphere, the federal government must make sturdy advocacy within the media.
He added, “The federal government must make sturdy advocacy. They need to get competent individuals who may help them make sturdy advocacy within the media on the intense environmental results of styrofoam and single-use plastics that they’re attempting to cease fully.
“Let me let you know that there are some elements of the world that don’t produce this, once more, they don’t use it in any respect. Go browsing, test. They don’t even produce. You received’t discover them there.
“Those you discover are primarily pepper bottles. And as soon as they use them, they return them to the place they purchased the drinks. These individuals from the place to procure it, will gather the bottle from you. They may use it once more to breed. In case you go there, they may pay you some cash for returning the bottles.
“After which after all, we have now to additionally take this to the grassroots, let’s say, secondary college degree, the chemistry or the science of environmental results of polymeric supplies to society. At the very least as soon as individuals begin getting that early schooling. As they develop, they may be capable of deal with authorities coverage on management of those supplies or full stoppage of using these supplies.”
When contacted, the state’s Commissioner for Info, Gbenga Omotosho, instructed PUNCH Healthwise that styrofoam use within the state stays unlawful.
Omotosho acknowledged that the federal government was attempting to step up its advocacy to enlighten some residents who claimed not to concentrate on the ban.
He stated, “We try as a lot as doable to step up our advocacy. some individuals will declare that they didn’t know and that those they introduced earlier than the ban, they want to exhaust them. And the federal government ought to proceed to present them a while and all types of causes that individuals are giving.
“However the truth stays that in Lagos, it’s banned and other people shouldn’t use one thing that’s banned.
“Those that are utilizing it are doing it illegally, they don’t have any permission or proper to do this.”
When requested if the federal government would embark on an evening raid, the commissioner famous, “You could have introduced a brand new dimension to it, I’ll now have to speak to those that are in cost, possibly to activate an evening enforcement. The reality of the matter is that whether or not it’s performed in day or evening, styrofoam stays banned in Lagos.”
Finish.