Plastics and polythene products to be banned from January 1, 2021

by Ifham Nizam

The government has decided to ban plastics and polythene products that cause serious environmental damage with effect from January 1, 2021, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.

A plethora of plastic and polythene products will fall within the ambit of the proposed prohibition and control mechanism, the Environment Ministry said.

The Minister said that after many rounds of discussions with environmental organizations, stakeholders and experts in the environment field, a number of plastic and polythene products that cause environmental degradation will either be banned or controlled.

In terms of the proposed move, Polyethylene (PET) and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) packaging of chemical substances or pesticides will be prohibited. Alternatively, product packaging made of glass or other environment-friendly raw materials can be used provided they are made of polythene and plastic sachet less than 20/g.

Inflatable toys made of plastic (excluding balloons, balls and floating toys) will be banned. Alternatively, raw materials manufactured from eco-friendly and hygienic ingredients can be used. Plastic cotton buds (excluding health medicine) will also be banned.

The Minister said that to promote the recycling of all plastic products, it has been decided to make it mandatory to refer to an internationally recommended plastic identification code numbered 1-7.

Meanwhile, the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) Executive Director Hemantha Withanage said there is no other way to stop pollution other than to ban polythene and introduce extended producer responsibility, where the producer would take the responsibility to recycle the bottles and e-waste etc.

On plastic bottles and polythene, the CEJ has challenged the garbage gazette calling for a scientific waste management policy and a mechanism.

“It should be based on a zero waste policy. Earlier, we had 3R which is Reduce Reuse Recycle but now all developed countries promote zero waste. This means all waste should be treated as resources for another production process,” he stressed.

A senior CEA official said that they have limited resources. However, they are in the process of taking all relevant measures to ensure a cleaner environment and rich biodiversity.

He stressed that when it comes to the disposal of plastic bottles, it is a common problem worldwide. Millions of single-use bottles end up in landfill sites or in oceans and only a very small proportion is recycled.

“It is the same in Sri Lanka, though there are tough regulations. However, there are shortcomings, as usual, when it comes to implementation,” he said.