Environment Day: HEDA advises Styrofoam ban in Nigeria to combat environmental degradation

By Fabian Ekeruche

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) Resource Centre has called for immediate ban on Styrofoam plates and utensils in Nigeria.

HEDA’s Executive Secretary, Sulaimon Arigbabu, said in a statement on Monday that the ban was aimed at combating environmental degradation and promoting sustainable practices.

Arigbabu said that as the global community marks World Environment Day with  the theme “Solutions to Plastic Pollution,” it had become imperative to emphasize the dangers of plastics.

He said that styrofoam’s durability and non-biodegradable nature significantly contribute to environmental pollution and pose a threat to human health.

“Banning Styrofoam would not only reduce pollution but also foster the development of eco-friendly alternatives, promote a circular economy, and create new job opportunities in the green sector,” Arigbabu said

According to him,  Styrofoam takes hundreds of years to decompose, leading to clogged waterways, rivers, and drainage systems, which in turn causes flooding and water pollution.

He said that  Marine life, particularly aquatic animals, suffer the consequences of ingesting or becoming entangled in Styrofoam debris, resulting in injury, starvation, and death.

He also called for a Styrofoam ban, while emphasizing the need for aggressive enforcement of sanitation rules and a behavioral change campaign to address the irresponsible disposal of plastics.

He said that the culture of using disposable Styrofoam plates had turned markets, garages and others into major sources of waste nuisance.

He also called for the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), a concept that holds producers accountable for the entire lifecycle of their products, including their end-of-life management.

“Under sanitation law enforcement and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), producers are required to implement strategies to reduce the environmental impact of their products.

“This includes incorporating eco-friendly materials, facilitating recycling, and ensuring proper disposal,” he said.

Arigbabu urged the Federal Government to declare a national week of action against plastic nuisance in Nigeria.

He said that during such week, there would be aggressive cleaning up, awareness on, as well deliberating on needed legislative and policy approach to #BealPlasticPollution in Nigeria.

(NAN)