Plastic collection process inefficient: Dr. Jasinghe
By Yumiko PereraThe Ministry of Environment is looking at introducing a “deposit return scheme” for plastic bottles containing drinks, The Sunday Morning learnt. The scheme has been proposed under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) principle that has been introduced to the National Environmental Act in its latest amendment. Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Environment Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe said: “This is a method that already exists when it comes to glass bottles. A deposit fee would be charged at the point of purchase and refunded to the consumer when the bottle is returned.” Stating that the move aims to reduce the use of single-use plastics, Dr. Jasinghe added: “The principle of reducing, reusing, and recycling explains why we are looking at a ‘deposit return scheme’. There are collectors and recyclers in Sri Lanka along with the facilities to recycle plastic materials. The collection process, however, does not take place in a proper manner. Approximately 4% of the recyclable plastics that are collected get recycled.” According to Dr. Jasinghe, although there are commercial-scale plastic collection and recycling facilities on the island, the plastic collection process in Sri Lanka mostly takes place on a voluntary basis. “Most of the manufacturers and distributors don’t seem to care about the environmental threat single-use plastic products may pose. We have to boost the collection process which usually takes place voluntarily, and this move would thereby shift the responsibility of post-consumer disposal from municipalities back to the producers,” he noted. He further noted that the Ministry of Environment plans on implementing similar measures in this regard in the future. The Ministry of Environment took necessary steps to ban the manufacture of certain plastic and polythene products that are used locally. The ban on single-use plastics took effect on 31 March, through which the use of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material used for any process, trade, or industry is also prohibited.
