By Sarah Hannan The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) has reimposed the ban on the use and production of polythene as stipulated in the Gazette issued in September 2017. The move comes after several reports of the increase of polythene and plastic usage during the lockdown period and following the guidelines that were issued to retail and food outlets to prevent the spread of Covid-19, the CEA revealed. “The penalties that were listed in the September 2017 Gazette will be exercised with the ban coming into effect on the manufacture, sale, offer for sale, offer free of charge, exhibition, or use of the polythene or any polythene product below 20 microns. We have commenced raids since Monday (6) and action will be taken against offenders as stated,” CEA Director General Hemantha Jayasinghe told The Morning. The CEA will once again look at the possibilities of encouraging retailers and restaurants to switch to biologically degradable polythene and plastics and the use of paper, cloth, or reed bags for customers when purchasing items in stores. The sale, importation, and production of containers, plates, cups, and spoons made using polystyrene and polythene containers used for processed or cooked meals will also come under the ban. The offenders will be subject to a fine of not more than Rs. 10,000 and/or a jail sentence of not more than two years, the CEA said. Enforcement of the law Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with the aforesaid regulations is punishable under Section 31 of the National Environmental Act No. 47 of 1980 (as amended). According to Section 31 such violators, “on conviction before a magistrate, are liable to imprisonment of either description for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine not exceeding Rs. 15,000 or to both, such imprisonment and fine”. Furthermore, in order to enforce the law, the CEA together with the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) and the Sri Lanka Police carry out regular raids and inspections throughout the country. Meanwhile, the open burning of refuse and other combustible matters inclusive of plastics was banned as a punishable offence under Section 31 of the National Environmental Act No. 47 of 1980. The said ban does not completely prohibit the manufacture and use of polythene in Sri Lanka but limits the manufacture and use of polythene or any polythene product of 20 microns or below in thickness. Upon the issuance of this partial ban, polythene manufacturers recoiled at the inadequate notice of implementation. Hence, a cabinet-appointed committee was constituted to look into the ban and make recommendations before January 2018.

• The manufacture, sale, offer for sale, offer free of charge, exhibition or use of polythene or any polythene product of 20 microns or below in thickness
• The manufacture, sale, offer for sale, offer free of charge, exhibition or use of food wrappers (lunch sheets) made from polythene as a raw material
• The manufacture of any bag of high-density polyethylene and the sale, offer for sale, offer free of charge, exhibition or use of any bag manufactured from high-density polyethylene as a raw material
• The manufacture, sale, offer for sale, offer free of charge, exhibition or use of food containers (lunch boxes), plates, cups and spoons manufactured from expanded polystyrene
• The open burning of refuse or other combustible matters inclusive of plastics
• The use of all forms of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene products, or polypropylene products as decoration in political, social, religious, national, cultural, or any other event or occasion