Styrofoam banned

The Zimbabwean Government is set to ban Styrofoam for use in food containers and to promote greener alternatives. A report on the allAfrica site notes that the country’s streets, rivers, drains and lakes are awash with discarded, non-recyclable Styrofoam food containers. The problem is exacerbated by the failure of authorities to routinely collect garbage. As a result, the Environment Management Agency will ban food containers made from Styrofoam, or kaylite as it is referred to in Zimbabwe. The ban will come into effect on 17 October. Made from petroleum-based polystyrene beads, the product contains 57 toxic chemicals. ‘The menace of kaylite on the environment is shocking, so banning it is the way to go,’ said Sandra Gobvu, a spokesperson for Environment Africa.

Full report on the allAfrica site