No ban on sachet water, PET bottles — Lagos govt

The Lagos State Government has clarified that the upcoming ban on single-use plastics and Styrofoam, set to take effect in January 2025, will not include sachet water and PET bottles.

The update was provided by Mr. Bankole Michael Omoniyi, the Director of Climate Change and Environmental Planning at the Lagos State Ministry of Environment, during an interview with the Tiwa Talks Green Podcast on ‘Understanding the Ban on Single-Use Plastics and Styrofoam (Government Perspective),’ posted on Monday.

Omoniyi explained that the ban, part of the government’s efforts to reduce environmental pollution, will focus on items such as nylon bags less than 40 microns, plastic spoons, plastic cups, and straws.

He said, “We banned nylon bags, plastic cutleries, straws, and then we also banned Styrofoam cups and plates. At no point did we say that PET bottles and sachet nylons were banned.”

These materials, particularly Styrofoam, have been identified as significant contributors to environmental hazards in Lagos.

Speaking on the environmental effects of single-use plastics and Styrofoam, Omoniyi cited pollution in Surulere as an example of the negative impact Styrofoam has had on the city.

READ ALSO: Lagos to ban single use plastics, sachet water in Jan

“The use of Styrofoam has led to clogged drainage channels, exacerbated flooding, and contributed to climate change and diseases like cholera,” Omoniyi said.

He also stressed the state’s efforts to promote a greener Lagos by engaging with manufacturers to discuss extended producer responsibilities and encourage alternatives to single-use plastics.

“We have two propositions, and the position is that every stakeholder and manufacturer in the plastic value chain must agree to extended producer responsibility,” he said.

“We can agree to have the creation of collection centres whereby every stakeholder can collect their waste, aggregate it, and then there will be an off-taker, and then we can go to recycling. The other one is that we can have a plastic management fund, that will be a fund that everybody involved in the value chain can contribute to.”

This clarification comes after the Lagos State Government initially announced plans to ban single-use plastics and Styrofoam in January 2024. Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, also confirmed that the ban on Styrofoam and single-use plastics is set to begin in January 2025.

The commissioner said the ban is part of measures by the state government to implement policy guidelines for plastic utility, further ensuring sustainable management of plastic waste and a healthy, safe environment.