Polythene under 20 microns banned from tomorrow

by Anura Maitipe

Polythene material including shopping Bags and Lunch sheets less than 20 microns will be banned from tomorrow, Secretary to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Jayalath R. V. Dissanayaka told the Sunday Observer.

With the new laws manufacturers, sellers and users of such items will be prosecuted. Those who are convicted will be sentenced to two years' imprisonment and fined Rs. 2,000 or both.

The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) has set up a flying squad to check polythene factories who defy the ban. The CEA has also initiated a long-term plan to enforce a complete ban on all polythene products within the next three years.

Attorney-at-Law Jagath Gunawardena said "this is a positive step towards banning polythene material in the country. If this ban had been enforced under the Consumer Protection Authority Act would have been more effective".

"Not only polythene, plastic bottles also create a disastrous impact on the environment and the government should take steps to check these items too", he added.

Polythene over 20 microns could be recycled but these less than 20 microns cannot be recycled but whether it is 20 microns or more polythene is creating a lethal impact on human beings, animals and the environment, he said.

Meanwhile, the Agriculture Research Institute has introduced natural lunch sheets and shopping bags made out of coil extract out of plantain trees.

This project was launched with the help of Small Industries Department (SID). The SID has made arrangements to popularise this as an industry on an islandwide basis.