Call to implement plastic waste management program

by Ananda Kannangara

At least 30,000 employees, engaged in manufacturing polythene bags on Thursday called upon the Government to implement the proposed National Post Consumer Plastic Waste Management Program.

Speaking at a media briefing in Colombo Vice President, Sri Lanka Packaging Institute, T. L. Chandrarathne called on the Government to reconsider a temporary removal of the ban of polythene bags and lunch papers that are manufactured under 20 microns until the proposed program commences.

"If the authorities failed to pay heed to the plea, at least 30,000 large and small scale polythene bag manufacturers will lose their jobs by next month," he said.

He said at least 138 manufacturers of polythene are registered with the Industrial Development Ministry and about 200,000 people depend on the industry.

"Almost all manufacturers own the machinery and other equipment used to manufacture polythene bags and lunch papers less than 20 microns and as a result they will have to close down their industries from January 1 due to the ban imposed by the Government through a gazette notification," he said.

He also said that about 160,000 mts of plastic raw materials and products are imported every year and about 30 per cent are re-exported.

"The major portion of the remaining are haphazardly disposed off into the environment as post consumer plastic waste," he said.

He also urged the Government to lift the ban temporarily and commence the environmental friendly recycling of post consumer plastics waste program which could be done under the National Post Consumer Plastic Waste Management Program.

Plastic Packaging (Pvt) Ltd (PPCL), Managing Director Mervyn Dias stressed the importance of manufacturing oxo-biodegradable polythene bags which are environment friendly.

He focused strong attention towards the Government's intention of banning polythene by 2007 adding that public authorities should further look into this matter and have a careful investigation on the manufacturing process of Oxo-biodegradable polythene bags.

"The authorities must first study the difference between oxo-biodegradable bags and non-degradable bags which are in common use in our country," he said.

"Oxo-biodegradable bags which can be used as any other bags, degrade fast and disappear within a short period under the heat, sunlight or at any other place where oxygen is available," he said.

He also said the degradation time period of oxo-biodegradable bags can be shortened or lengthened depending on the percentage of additives, added to the chemical structure.

He said oxo-biodegradable bags are manufactured with a high quality additive called PDQ-H which is imported from the USA.

"We have also tested the degradable bags that we manufacture at Rapra Ltd, UK and they too have certified that the bags are safe for food," he added.