Local Government authorities in Galle, Batticaloa and Vavuniya ‘Give Back Life’ to PET Plastic Bottles
Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Ltd, with funding from The Coca-Cola Foundation and the support of The Asia Foundation, Environment Foundation Ltd and Eco Spindles (Pvt) Ltd, collaborated with Local Government authorities to establish three Give Back Life PET plastic bottle collection centres in the South (Galle), East (Batticaloa) and North (Vavuniya) of Sri Lanka. These strategically located centres will support the collection, segregation, and bailing of PET bottles which will then later be recycled into yarn and brushes in Sri Lanka, the beverage company said in a media release.
In 2018, The Coca-Cola Company, through the announcement of the ‘World Without Waste’ programme renewed its investment in sustainable packaging globally so that all its packaging can enjoy a life beyond being beverage containers. Additionally, the company will lead the industry in seeking partners to collaborate on meaningful solutions to clean up existing packaging from the environment and developing effective collection and recycling systems. The Give Back Life programme in Sri Lanka falls under the global ‘World Without Waste’ agenda whose goal is to support any and every PET bottle on the island to re-fulfill its destiny and become something fantastic again.
Galle Mayor Priyantha Sahabandu, noted, “We were initially very excited to learn of Coca-Cola’s initiative to recycle PET bottles and today a PET recovery centre in Galle has been launched which will undoubtedly strengthen our mandate to combat plastic pollution while enhancing our waste collection methods in the city of
Galle and beyond.”
Batticaloa Mayor Thiagaraja Saravanapavan, said, “Setting up dedicated PET Recovery Centres capable of collecting, segregating and equipped with baling facilities, will ensure a higher percentage of PET plastic waste collection in Batticaloa and livelihood opportunities for the people in the area.”
Ramalingam Gowthaman, Chairman of the Vavuniya Municipal Council, commented, “This sustainable waste management initiative will allow respective local councils to earn extra revenue from the collection of PET to sustain the functioning of the centre and could potentially lower costs related to solid waste management in the long term within the city of Vavuniya.”
Ms. Dinesha de Silva - Country Representative, The Asia Foundation, said: “Ideally we would want to replicate these model sites across all the 341 Local Government authorities in Sri Lanka. These collection centres will facilitate authorities to partner with schools, community-based organisations, and business associations in the future to champion a cleaner environment in their areas through the systematic collection of PET materials.’
Dr. Anush Amarasinghe – CEO, Eco Spindles Pvt Ltd, stated, “The simple act of recycling all PET plastics gives rise to new industries, employment opportunities, and cleaner cities, oceans and rivers.”
Ms. Chathurangi Wickramaratne - Head of Science, Environmental Foundation Ltd, said, “EFL’s role has been to instill awareness in the communities of recycling PET plastic for a circular economy through the Give Back Life project.”