GEORGETOWN: 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 two to five 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.