LASEPA TO BAN SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BAGS WITHIN ITS PREMISES

The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA, is set to ban all single-use plastic bags within its premises from Monday, 13th January, 2020 in a move to protect the environment and encourage eco-friendly products while calling for suitable and multiple-use alternatives to prevent pollution and avoid disposal problems.

A release issued by the General Manager of the Agency, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe recently, noted that “As the Environmental police of the State, LASEPA should set good examples for others to emulate, hence the reason why we are using our premises as a pilot scheme to drive home our zero plastic waste campaign and its attendant effects on human health and environment”.

She explained that in order to drive home the importance of the campaign, the Agency will be providing multiple-use cloth bags to all staff within the first week of implementation to substitute old unfriendly materials after which same bags can be purchased from the Agency at a minimal fee.

While enjoining all staff and visitors to LASEPA premises to support and comply with the directive, Fasewe averred that the move would be extended for wider implementation in all government facilities and the entire State after the successful implementation of the pilot scheme.

“Single-Use plastics represent the epitome of a throwaway culture that ends up in landfills, oceans, waterways and the environment, causing environmental and health hazards. The replacement will be made with recyclable and reuseable cotton cloth bags or paper bags that are eco-friendly and naturally decomposes”, Fasawe said.

The General Manager, thereby, called for societal change against the use of single-use materials, charging corporate organisations, companies and industries to embrace the new holistic approach by using recyclable and reusable materials that are cost-effective, environmentally-friendly and devoid of nuisances and pollution.

The pilot scheme, according to Fasawe, would serve as a blueprint and guide towards government policy thrust for protecting the environment and making it more habitable for all residents.