Environmental experts tells the governments to ban the use of styrofoam.
Styrofoam products account for 30% of all landfills worldwide. Styrofoam is not only a hazardous air pollution, but it also endangers individuals, the environment, and animals. The worst aspect is that Styrofoam takes over 500 years to degrade, releasing toxic chemicals into the environment in the process. Given that landfills are rapidly filling up, this is a highly concerning fact. Styrene leaches into meals and beverages placed in Styrofoam containers, creating contamination. When the same container is exposed to sunlight, dangerous air pollutants are produced, contaminating landfills and depleting the ozone layer.
When Styrofoam is created, significant volumes of ozone are released into the atmosphere, causing respiratory and environmental problems. Styrofoam damages animals that forage for food in landfills. Normally, these items readily break apart into small fragments that might strangle animals. Polystyrene, which is found in Styrofoam, degrades so slowly that it is not considered a biodegradable substance. When it comes to disintegration, most of the polystyrene that ends up in landfills can take anywhere from 500 to 1 million years to breakdown, according to Styrofoam statistics.
Styrofoam has not been recycled properly in the nation.
Environmental experts have urged Nigeria’s state and federal governments to prohibit the use of Styrofoam containers, claiming that they harm the environment and human health. They made the request in a separate conversation with our correspondent in Lagos. Styrofoam is a type of expanded polystyrene that is mostly used to make food containers. They urged the country’s three levels of government to prohibit the use of Styrofoam containers because chemicals can leach into them and contaminate food, endangering human health and reproductive systems. According to Mr. Alexgreat Akhigbe, head of the African Clean-up Initiative, polystyrene is wreaking havoc on human health and polluting the environment.
He said, the main issue with this product is that no one has been able to reuse or recycle it. He went on to say that people haven’t been paying attention to Styrofoam because it doesn’t have a high recycle value. He believes that for the time being, some cement companies have been able to gather this type of trash as well as others that are not recyclable in order to use for manufacturing. Aside from these companies, they don’t have any recyclers who will accept the waste, which is why they’re littered all around, he explained. The country lacks policies in place to combat this threat. For example, if he was in government, he would talk to the individuals who make this Styrofoam and tell them they need to come up with a plan to recover the waste product off the street.
Food sellers prefer Styrofoam because it is cheaper.
Mr. Emmanuel Emechete, another environmentalist, informed our correspondent that the Styrofoam containers used by food vendors had little or no recycle value. “It will be more useful if it can be banned because it ends up wreaking havoc on the ecosystem.” It becomes scattered in the gutters, clogging them. “Yes, we know it is very inexpensive, and because of the country’s economic circumstances, people choose to use it, but it not only causes environmental problems, but it also has health repercussions for individuals.” They are toxic chemically because they contain compounds that are damaging to the body. For example, if you put a hot soup in a Styrofoam container, you will notice that some of the Styrofoam is already melting into your soup because it is incredibly light. He urged the government to limit the spread of Styrofoam in order to avoid further environmental and health risks.
Mrs. Kudirat Olawunmu, a food vendor who spoke with our correspondent, stated that customers prefer to buy their food in Styrofoam since it is cheaper. “If I obtain the other plastic plates, people will not buy them because they are pricey,” she explained. Miss. Kadijat Ibrahim, another food vendor, stated she never uses anything other than Styrofoam takeaway containers. When questioned why he favoured Styrofoam over any other takeaway dish, another food vendor, Mr. Shola Asumo, replied it was due to popular demand. “When I ask my customers which takeaway plate they want, the majority of them prefer Styrofoam because it’s cheaper.” “I also have the other takeaway dishes, but just a few people ask for them,” he explained.
A better alternative to using Styrofoam.
Scientists are hopeful that they will be able to find an acceptable alternative for Styrofoam. Restaurants and foodservice companies should make an effort to promote the usage of biodegradable containers as an environmentally friendly alternative. Make eco-friendly choices on an individual level to decrease the use of this product. Avoid single-use items to reduce your use of Styrofoam. Reusable cups, bottles, and silverware should be used. Use products that are made from renewable resources, contain biodegradable ingredients, and are easily recycled as well.
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The styrofoam use should be ban because of many disadvantages it has to the environment.
Government should ban the use of styrofoam outrightly anything that is detriment to the citizenry should be prohibited for the health consequences on the citizenry is unquantifiable.
Government should be Styrofoam since is a danger to our health and environment even to the animal. Since the disadvantages of it is high and we can not be risking our life for it is better is ban
I pray scientists are successful and
they will be able to find an acceptable alternative for Styrofoam as soon as possible.
Not only does the use of Styrofoam contribute to dangerous levels of air pollution, but it also puts people, animals, and the ecosystem in danger.
When the same container is left out in the sun, harmful air pollutants are created. These pollutants end up polluting landfills and contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer.
Significant amounts of ozone are discharged into the atmosphere during the manufacturing of Styrofoam, which results in a variety of health and environmental complications.
If truly the Styrofoam is bad for the environment. then government should ban it. instead of causing problem for us
Animals that search through dumps for food can become injured by ingesting Styrofoam. In their natural state, these things rapidly disassemble into small particles that might potentially suffocate or kill animals.
According to the state and federal governments of Nigeria, the use of Styrofoam containers should be prohibited because of the negative effects they have on both the environment and human health.
If these styrofoam cannot be properly recycled to avoid environmental pollution, then it should be banned. It has more harm than good. It ends up wreaking havoc on the ecosystem
Given that landfills are rapidly filling up, this is a highly concerning fact. The government should limit the spread of Styrofoam in order to avoid further environmental and health risks.
Not only does the use of Styrofoam contribute to dangerous levels of air pollution, but it also puts people, animals, and the ecosystem in danger.
This is a really troubling issue to consider in light of the quick rate at which landfills are reaching their capacity.
Dangerous air pollutants are created when the same container is exposed to sunlight, contaminating landfills and weakening the ozone layer.
If Styrofoam is so dangerous to humans and our ecosystem it will be better if government can create policies banning the use of it in any form.
I think people should be enlightened well enough about this danger of styrofoam, so they will desist from using styrofoam things. It not being able to decompose easily will surely affect the ozone layer and in turn the environment will suffer from climate change.
Styrofoam uses shouldn’t be allowed in any country considering the danger it posed to our health and ecosystems. Government needs to come up with a policies that inform and educate the masses about and prohibited the uses.