LAGOS IMPOSES BAN ON SINGLE USE PLASTICS

LAGOS IMPOSES BAN ON SINGLE USE PLASTICS

Lagos, Nigeria — the bustling megacity of more than 20 million people — has just joined the growing list of cities around the world that have banned single-use plastics. This is a bold step for a city that produces 870,000 tons of plastic waste every year, out of the world’s 57 million tons. And yet, while the ban sounds impressive on paper, the reality is far from clean and green.

Under the new law, which took effect July 1, single-use items like Styrofoam packs, plastic cutlery, plates, and straws are officially prohibited. Businesses that defy the ban risk closure. But as often happens with big announcements, implementation is proving to be the real challenge. A quick stroll through Lagos’ markets shows Styrofoam packs still stacked on shelves and used freely by food vendors.

One shop manager openly admitted he still uses plastic packs five times a day — because they are cheap, convenient, and, frankly, alternatives are scarce. This points to the first big problem: it is easy to ban, but how do you enforce it?

This situation sounds familiar here in the Philippines. Many of our own cities — Las Piñas, Pasay, Pasig, Makati, Muntinlupa, Quezon City, and Parañaque — have declared bans or restrictions on single-use plastics. But there is a big difference between a restriction and a ban. A restriction says, “Please use less.” A ban says, “You can’t use it at all.” Too many LGUs take the safer middle ground, perhaps to avoid complaints from businesses and consumers. But here’s the question: When will these cities be brave enough to move from restriction to outright prohibition?

And even with a complete ban, what if plastics from non-complying businesses still end up in the city’s garbage trucks? Do we have clear protocols for confiscating them or penalizing offenders? More importantly, can one city’s ban really work if the next city over still allows them? In the Philippines, residents can just cross a boundary to buy plastic-packaged goods. The same happens in Lagos.

Lagos’ deeper problem is that its waste management system is overwhelmed. The city produces 13,000 tons of waste daily — almost 20% of it plastics — much of which ends up in waterways, clogging canals, polluting beaches, and even contributing to devastating floods. Banning plastics without upgrading waste collection and disposal systems is like banning cigarettes without funding public health clinics — the intention is good, but the infrastructure isn’t ready.

Environmental activists in Lagos point out that without strong enforcement, affordable alternatives for vendors, and serious investment in waste management, the law will remain more symbolic than practical. And manufacturers, too, have a responsibility. If they produce plastic packaging, they should have a clear system for collecting it back for recycling. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws exist in theory, but how often do we see them enforced?

Interestingly, some Lagos residents have taken matters into their own hands. Private waste managers and informal recyclers sort, clean, and sell discarded plastics to private companies. They earn a small but steady income — about 5,000 naira (roughly ₱200) a day — from this work. But their efforts, while admirable, can’t keep pace with the flood of waste.

Here in the Philippines, we could make compliance easier with practical solutions. First, cities should provide color-coded garbage bins, such as those manufactured by INCA, to encourage waste segregation. Second, they could deploy Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) — like the ones from Spurway Enterprises — in malls, markets, and barangay centers, giving residents a convenient way to return bottles and other recyclables for a small reward.

Behavioral change is also essential. People will only give up single-use plastics when they have viable, affordable alternatives. That means supporting local businesses that sell reusable containers, compostable packaging, and refillable products. Without this, bans will remain a frustrating cycle of announcement, partial compliance, and eventual fading into the background noise of good intentions.

The lesson from Lagos is clear: banning single-use plastics is just one step. It must be paired with affordable alternatives, consistent enforcement, waste management upgrades, and public education. Otherwise, the law becomes just another press release — and the plastic continues to pile up.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, senseneres.blogspot.com

10-22-2025