Coca-cola expands ‘Give Back Life’ programme with WMA partnership on PET plastic recycling

At a recent event graced by the presence of Western Province Governor, Marshal of the Sri Lanka Air Force Roshan Goonetileke, Coca-cola Beverages Sri Lanka (CCBSL) and the Waste Management Authority Western Province (WMA-WP) launched an initiative to enhance responsible disposal of PET plastic collection in 10 local authorities of the Western Province, and to facilitate a discussion around Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in Sri Lanka.

Other dignitaries present at the event included P. Somasiri Secretary to the Governor Western Province, A.D.S. Sadeeka, Secretary to the Chief Ministry of the Western Province, Chamila Herath – Chairman of WMA-WP –Nalin Mannapperuma – Director of WMAWP, Mayank Arora - Managing Director of CCBSL and Lakshan Madurasinghe - Regional Lead, Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability for Cocacola in Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal and Bhutan. At the event, 10 PET plastic collection bins with the capacity to collect approximately 1,500 bottles each were handed over to the respective local authorities.

This project is a part of the WMA-WP’S ‘Pivithuru Ayathana’ program which aims to promote source segregation of waste at office premises of Local Authorities and recycling in order to ensure that waste is seen as a resource of value.

It is also a part of CCBSL’S signature waste management programme ‘Give Back Life’, which as a part of its global sustainability strategy of a World Without Waste, aims to collect and recycle a bottle for each one sold by Coca-cola in Sri Lanka by 2030.

CCBSL also extended its support to create linkages for the local authorities with the waste collectors and the recycler, Eco-spindles Pvt. Ltd., who will convert ‘waste to value’ and recycle the PET plastic into bristles for brushes and yarn for garments. This project contributes to the national economy, boosts export earnings and helps in creating a circular economy while also providing livelihoods for waste collectors and supports Sustainable Development Goals 12 (Responsible Production and Consumption), 13 (Climate Action) and 14 (Life Below Water).

Mayank Arora - Managing Director of CCBSL commented, “CCBSL is honoured to partner with WMA-WP in this important environmental programme that contributes towards our joint vision to improve waste management, reduce pollution, and increase PET plastic collection and recycling in Sri Lanka. This is an important initiative that has set the foundation for future Private-public collaborations on waste management in Sri Lanka and Volunteer base EPR.”

Nalin Mannapperuma – Director of WMA stated, “We are grateful to CCBSL for stepping forward to help in increasing PET plastic collection and recycling in Sri Lanka. They have always demonstrated their commitment for such ground-breaking waste management efforts, and I am confident that together we can make a big difference in how waste management is perceived and handled in Sri Lanka.”