LAGOS: Nigerian shop manager Olarewanju Ogunbona says he uses Styrofoam and plastic packs at least five times a day — nothing unusual in the megacity of Lagos, one of the world’s most plastics-polluted urban areas.
The city’s over 20 million people contributed 870,000 tons of the world’s 57 million tons of plastic waste in 2024. Lagos state authorities last month imposed a ban on single-use plastics, but residents say weak enforcement and the absence of alternatives have weakened its effectiveness.
Under the law that kicked off on July 1, the use of single-use plastics such as cutlery, plates and straws is banned and offenders risk their businesses being shut down. However, other forms of plastics, which make up a smaller percentage of the city’s waste, are still in use.
The ban is far from being fully implemented, as some shops still display Styrofoam packs on their shelves.
“Sellers are still using it very well,” said Ogunbona, who continues to buy his Styrofoam-packed meals.
