Lagos State’s Ban on Single-Use Plastic and Styrofoam Containers – THISDAY Style

Dear Readers,

Last month, the Lagos State government announced the enforcement of an existing ban on single-use plastic and styrofoam containers. The ban, first announced in 2021, marks a definitive move towards a more sustainable future.

I had the privilege of speaking with Kunle Adeshina, the Director of Public Affairs at the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, where the ban was put into law, to understand the motivations behind it. I also spoke with Kesiena Oghoma, Chief Operating Officer of The Paper Cup and Packaging Company Ltd., on the future of packaging in Lagos.

The Government’s Perspective

Adeshina and I spoke extensively about the work Lagos State has been doing to fix the effects of non-biodegradable waste on the environment. Adeshina shared that a large quantity of government funds are allocated to clearing blocked drainage channels caused primarily by these banned materials. 

“We realised that styrofoam and all these single-use plastics constitute more than 80% of what we take out of the canals every year. The amount of resources that the government commits to this can be channelled to some other social infrastructure,” Adeshina says regarding the government’s limited resources. “There are roads to be built; there are more schools to be built—even improved security.

“The government will not sit idly and allow our drains to be fully clogged so that when rain falls, we will have flooding. When there is flooding, it comes with the loss of lives and properties.”

The World Bank reported that over 600 people lost their lives to the devastating 2022 floods in Nigeria, which displaced more than 1.4 million people and cost the nation over ₦7 trillion.

“Part of Lagos is below the sea level, so when it rains, you will have what we call flash floods. Some 4-5 hours after the rain, it is supposed to drain off into bodies of water, ultimately going into the ocean and the lagoon, but all these canals have been filled up with refuse. It can’t take water. So if it can’t take water, it goes into the street and floods houses and properties,” Adeshina explained. “And because the canals are filled up with styrofoam that we have to clean every day when you clean it, the next moment it rains, it brings them back to come and block the canals. If it were something that dissolved quickly, we wouldn’t have the issue.”

The government recognises the detrimental effects of plastic and styrofoam on the environment, particularly on human life and the overall ecosystem.

“Styrofoam, as it is, doesn’t break down for 500 years,” said Adeshina. “It is non-biodegradable. Even if you use scissors to cut it, it will be in that state.” He further detailed what happens when particles from styrofoam get into the waterways and the sea. “Even when people cut them into small particles and they get into bodies of water, they get eaten up by fish and all the rest, and the polystyrene—one of the constituents—causes harm to marine life.”

“You can’t say that because people are shouting that the economy is bad; people must make a profit. But not to the detriment of the over 22 million people who reside in Lagos. A responsive government will not allow that. The government is only interested in improving the well-being of the residents of Lagos because that is what the governor, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, swore to do. It’s about improved healthcare and a sustainable environment.”

Following the pronouncement, the Commissioner, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, addressed the concerns of industry stakeholders. He issued an additional three-week moratorium to enable the depletion of stock, which will have concluded by the time this newsletter is published.

“The Honourable Commissioner for the Environment spoke on January 22nd, and we’ve had representatives from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, food and restaurant operators, distributors, supermarkets, and all the rest, talking about what they have in stock. So he agreed that, okay, there’s no going back on the ban,” Adeshina said while explaining the classifications of the ban. “Is it nylon for making sachet water or PET bottles? No. For now, the emphasis of the ban is just on styrofoam. So this present ban now is only about styrofoam food containers.”

Adeshina explained that the extension given by the Commissioner is sufficient to help producers, importers, distributors, and sellers exhaust their existing stock: “Three weeks is enough. Some people said, ‘Give us two years, but you had three years from when the pronouncement was made. It’s just about the manufacturers not being ready to be responsible. If indeed they were committed or intentional about looking for sources or thinking of, okay, the government has made this pronouncement, what do I do to support the government? And from all indicators, health-wise—as citizens and even for the environment itself—it is a no-no for this product.”

“The manufacturers are not on the side of the law,” he explained further. “If you’re going to produce any material, such as styrofoam, because of its constituents, you’re supposed to obtain an EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) approval before you start manufacturing, but none has approached us for that. Ordinarily, if you approach and seek approval for that, you can’t get approval because of what the styrofoam consists of. Any manufacturer who hasn’t gotten an EIA approval has no right to even manufacture it in Lagos. That’s what the law says. So, if you have no cover of the law, there’s no basis that you will come and seek remediation on something.”

I also questioned Adeshina on how he suggests Nigerians best approach the transition in their day-to-day lives, to which he said, “Most people don’t use styrofoam to take their food to work. They use small flasks. So why don’t you imbibe that culture?”

On the government’s plan to enforce the ban, Adeshina said, “Some of the manufacturers we met with were asking that they hope we won’t come in the ‘commando’ style. No, we will be civil, but we will be firm.”

“Commissioner even told them that let’s even have a figure for all this. That, okay, our members who are manufacturers and our members who are distributors, this is the quantity of what they have in stock. Give us figures. I don’t think they’ve brought figures up till now. So you have three weeks, but if you feel you are insistent on still using it, you can take it to some other states that have not banned them. It’s as simple as that. But in Lagos, we don’t want it anymore.”

Adeshina also said that the ban, which originated from the National Council on Environment, is a nationwide ban. “It was decided by the umbrella body, but Lagos, we felt we can’t be giving the short end of the stick to our own residents. That was why we took the bold step, and you can see that some days after we did, Abia State followed suit. So you know, I guess it’s the lack of political will that was missing for the other states, waiting for someone to bell the cat.”

I asked Adeshina which other items we can expect to be banned, to which he said, “The Commissioner told the stakeholders that we shouldn’t look at it that we have the latitude that it’s only styrofoam, then keep on producing all the other single-use plastics. He made it a matter of fact that by the end of 2024, all the other single-use items will not be allowed in Lagos.”

“One thing has been very constant from all the comments that we’ve had. No one has outrightly condemned the ban, saying that it’s wrong. It’s only ‘you should have given them notice,’ but which notice are we discussing? Whatever is bad is bad.”

The Role of Paper Packaging Manufacturers

The Paper Cup and Packaging Company has been at the forefront of developing eco-friendly alternatives to single-use plastic and styrofoam containers since 2014. Oghoma, who said they were the first to manufacture branded paper cups in Nigeria, explained that the industry has seen increased demand since the recent enforcement of the ban was announced.

“We have experienced a market surge already, like we all anticipated,” said Oghoma, whose business saw a 740% increase in weekly sales of some products. Oghoma said his company also issued discounts to help food vendors make the pricing transition. On the availability and affordability of paper-based packaging options, he said, “There is definitely a difference in price, but the value proposition stands out. The paper is available, but the cost is high due to the foreign exchange rate. We employ the government to revitalise Nigeria’s three national paper mills to work to full capacity. We all import paper, but if our national mills were working optimally, it would help to reduce paper costs and boost consistent availability.”

Paper-based packaging offers several advantages over traditional plastic and styrofoam containers. Paper is a renewable and biodegradable material, making it an ideal choice for reducing environmental impact. Additionally, advancements in technology and manufacturing processes have allowed for the creation of sturdy and water-resistant paper packaging options, ensuring that they meet the requirements of various food products.

“We have a variety of paper packaging solutions, ranging from bags and cups to food packaging boxes and packs,” said Oghoma. “From our inception, it has been our core practice to follow all environmental safety practices. Right from our design process, we reduce, recycle, and reuse where necessary.”

Challenges and Solutions

While the ban is a commendable step towards sustainability, it does present its challenges. The consistent availability and affordability of paper-based packaging options can be a concern, especially for small businesses. It is the hope of paper packaging manufacturers like Oghoma that the government will work closely with them to ensure a smooth transition and address any obstacles that may arise.

“We believe the government will achieve its goal, especially if it partners with the private sector by giving the needed support and backing to ensure the ease of production and distribution of various forms of eco-friendly packaging. The government should also engage in proper sensitization of the public on the importance of the ban in order to create a culture of sustainability,” Oghoma said.

What are your thoughts on the ban? If you run a food business or are a food packaging manufacturer, are you affected by the ban? I’d love to hear from you.

If you have any food-related questions you would like me to answer or stories you would like shared in this column, please send them to food.column@biscuitboneblog.com.

Sincerely, 

Eka Obaigbena

Food Columnist, THISDAY Style