As a result of its impact on the solid waste issue in Guyana, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is drafting a number of measures, which will see the ban on the use of Styrofoam in the near future.
This is according to Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon, who at a press conference today, Thursday August 29, stated that Environment Minister, Robert Persaud obtained cabinet’s approval to draft a menu of measures to restrict the use of Styrofoam.
“Two important aspects included the imposition of taxes and duties on its importation and use with the intention of being a disincentive to its implication and its use to the food industry. Secondly, the creation and the offer of incentives to importers and users of alternatives to Styrofoam in the food sector, Cabinet thrust upon the Ministry the responsibility of fully elaborating on these two aspects of its intent to restrict importation on use of Styrofoam…” Dr. Luncheon said.
According to Dr. Luncheon, the use of Styrofoam is dominant in the food industry, and it plays an inordinately important role in the accumulation of solid waste.
He noted that because of its non disposable and chemical nature, it cannot be recycled.
Earlier this year, Mayor of Georgetown Hamilton Green called on the relevant authorities to look into the banning of plastics and styrofoam. He said those non-biodegradables cause most of the garbage pile-ups in the city.
He expressed the view that, even though persons will want to throw such items into the drains and trenches, the fact that they are biodegradable and will be dissolved easily would not cause blockages.
