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CEA to resubmit polythene ban

13 Mar 2022

By Yakuta Dawood The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) is expected to re-submit the polythene and plastic product ban to the Cabinet for its approval, after adding more products to the list for approval in the upcoming weeks. Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, CEA Waste Management Division Director Sarojini Jayasekara stated that the Cabinet had recently formed a committee to study and produce a full report with details of the expected ban implementation date, grace period timeline for producers, and other related matters.  “The Ministry has finished compiling this report, hence it will be resubmitted to the Cabinet by the next week for approval. Once approval is granted, the implementation of the ban will move forward,” Jayasekara said.  The new list items to be banned include artificial grass mats (except those used for indoor sports grounds), garlands, string hopper preparation trays (net), single-use drinking cups, plates, spoons, forks and knives, drinking straws and stirrers, bags with dimensions of less than 10x5x16 inches (with handle) or 10x12 inches (without handle or gusset), and any plastic material used for the packing of incense sticks and wicks for any process, trade, or any industry. Previously CEA told The Sunday Morning Business that the expected timeline of implementation was 1 January 2022, however, due to unavoidable circumstances, the date had been pushed backwards.  Further, Jayasekara requested that regardless of whether or not the ban was implemented, all stakeholders should be responsible towards the environment as the aforementioned products were harmful to society. “We don’t need to wait until the regulations are imposed, because these items are a nuisance to the environment. If we can voluntarily limit our overuse of plastic, it would be a good service for the environment and the future generations to come,” she emphasised. Meanwhile, the Centre for Environmental Justice report published in 2021 stated that Sri Lanka generates 7,000 Metric Tonnes (MT) of solid waste per day, with the Western Province accounting for nearly 60% of waste generation. However, according to the report, around 500,000 MT of total plastic (raw material and articles made of plastic, furniture, and toys) is imported into Sri Lanka annually, of which about 70% is used locally.  Nevertheless, on a positive note, the report also noted: “It has been estimated that Sri Lanka earns $ 2 million foreign exchange via imports and exports of plastics, where imports make up around 160,000 MT of plastic raw materials (primary forms) and around 140,000 MT of finished goods along with intermediate products every year.”       


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