October 18, 2015
Guyana to ban polystyrene foam products
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) — Guyana’s government is implementing a ban on polystyrene foam products that it says pose a threat to health and the environment.
The product is widely used in the local food industry here and officials say it accounts for 2 to 5 per cent of local waste.
They hope the ban that takes effect on January 1 will encourage biodegradable alternatives.
Government officials said Sunday in announcing the ban that the improper disposal of the product has sparked cleanup costs of millions of dollars. A previous effort to ban the product was dropped under intense private-sector lobbying.