No extension for manufacturers: EPA on January 1, 2027 styrofoam and single-use plastics ban

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has decided not to extend the January 1, 2027 deadline for the nationwide prohibition on polystyrene foam (styrofoam) products and certain single-use plastics. At a stakeholder engagement in Wa, the EPA's Chief Executive Officer, Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, stated that the policy would be enforced regardless of businesses' concerns about machinery, equipment, and raw material investments.

She criticized manufacturers and importers for prioritizing profits over environmental concerns and human health. The ban, announced by President John Dramani Mahama during the 2025 World Environment Day, targets items such as takeaway food packs, foam mattresses, ceiling panels, and roofing insulation. The EPA's Director of Sustainable and Circular Economy, Larry Kotoe, clarified that polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles would not be included in the immediate ban due to their recyclability.

However, single-use thin polythene bags, or "coco rubbers," will be targeted as part of the elimination strategy. Kotoe cautioned food vendors against wrapping hot food in thin plastic before boiling or wrapping in leaves, warning that environmental officers would seize non-compliant materials.