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| Sunday, 26 September 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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BETL plans more garbage disposal plants by Chanuka Mannapperuma With the resounding success of their initial project, Burns Environmental and Technologies PVT Ltd (BETL) plans to set up eight garbage disposal plants to produce compost islandwide on wider commercial basis. "Our first project is a success and we are now planning to further expand our operations," said Managing Director, BETL- Ravi Wijeratne, the owner of the largest compost plant in South Asia. The company which is owned by 100 Sri Lankans commenced operation in 2002 with an initial investment of Rs.600 million using Indian technology. BETL which is a BOI registered firm has entered into an agreement for 25 years with the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC). "We are the first compost manufacturing plant established in the country on commercial basis and in fact, this is the biggest plant of this kind in South Asia," Wijeratne claimed. BETL's plant which is located in a 17 acre land at Sedawatta in the Colombo city will manufacture compost fertiliser while the transfer station is at Bloomendhal. It has also created nearly 200 job opportunities for people who are living around the factory area. The plant's production capacity ranges from 80 to 100 tonnes per day. By using 120 tonnes of garbage, the plant could manufacture 15 tonnes of compost while the rest end up as moisture.When you collect 100 tonnes, 50 - 60 per cent goes for moisture. " The whole process is eco friendly and no chemicals are used." He said that there is a market for compost in the country."The world is moving towards organic products. Besides, this is a soil-enricher.Sri Lanka, being an agricultural country, this would greatly help to develop the agriculture sector." He was confident that by using compost fertiliser, the country could reduce the foreign exchange incurred on importing chemical fertiliser at a high cost. At present, BETL uses garbage collected from the CMC and Dehiwala Mount Lavinia areas at their plant. Wijeratne said before they came into operation, the CMC was facing a severe crisis with the garbage disposal. The company also closely associates with the Agricultural Department of Peradeniya."They do mainly the research part, he added." Wijeratne now plans to expand his venture into other provinces too. "My plan is to expand this and set up eight more factories in areas such as Galle, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura and Trincomalee. I have already submitted tenders which are now being evaluated." The company has sales outlets covering 14 districts in Sri Lanka. The compost fertilizer is checked and approved by Agriculture Department of Peradeniya."At first, we had a difficulty in getting into the market but now there is a demand." Explaining about his future plans he said that he is trying to export this natural compost fertilizer to Maldives and Middle East countries. "This natural compost could be used for all the crops.Specially we have six varieties of compost with mineral fertilizer for Tea, paddy, coconut and vegetables. We provide 20Kg to 50Kg packets to the local market." Wijeratne stressed, that if the Government extends more assistance, they are in a position to further expand this venture."If they give us assistance, this could be further improved benefitting the farmer while saving the country's foreign exchange." he added. |
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