FG to Phase Out Biodegradable Water Satchets, Other Plastics

Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Environment has developed an action plan that will lead to a ban on light weight non-biodegradable plastics in the country, an official source in the ministry has revealed. The source made this disclosure to News Agency ofNigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said that the plan has been embraced by stakeholders in the sector. The Ministry of Environment in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, in December 2013, had conducted a workshop to sensitize Nigerians on the process. “What we intend to do now is to follow the implementation of the action plan since the awareness has already started; the next step is to source funds from UNIDO to implement the plan. “Once we have funds, we will continue with other activities in the process of phasing out heavy non-biodegradable plastics.” The official, however, added that non-biodegradable plastics could not be entirely phased out because of its importance to the society. He noted that the use of the material in the production of plastic chairs is an example of one of its important uses in the society, which would make a complete ban impossible.