Styrofoam: Abia State Government Bans ‘Take-away’ Foils

The Abia State Ministry of Environment has prohibited the use of Styrofoam foils, commonly known as ‘Take Away,’ as food containers in the state.

VerseNews reports that the Commissioner for Environment, Philemon Ogbonna, announced the ban and urged the public to cease using these foils pending a thorough investigation into their potential health risks.

The ban comes in line with similar measures adopted by other states, such as Lagos.

During the January 2024 Clean Up exercise, authorities in Umuahia arrested and penalized individuals who violated the ban, engaging in activities like trading or loitering during the designated environmental sanitation hours.

Despite these sanctions, the clean-up witnessed substantial compliance, with many residents participating by cleaning gutters, and state-provided trucks handled waste disposal.