Plastic ban further streamlined: More items to be added to list

The E nv i r o n m e n t Ministry will add seven items to its plastic ban list, instead of 15 items as earlier announced, an official said.

The items were not disclosed as the list is still in drafting stage. It could come into force from January next year.

In March this year, the Government banned sachets and cotton buds ( single- use items) but companies exploited the loopholes in the regulation which prohibited sachets containing 20mg or less. Prior to the regulations, between 10 and 12ml sachets were being sold with as little as 2ml of shampoo in them.

The Sunday Times had quoted plastics manufacturers as saying that to circumvent the regulations, companies would resort to producing 20.5 to 21 ml sachets. As predicted, some businesses released to the market 24ml sachet packets ( four 6ml sachets attached to each other).

The Central Environmental Authority ( CEA) immediately put a stop to it, said Director Solid Waste Sarojani Jayasekara. As decisions regarding the first ban were taken in consultation with the industry, of ficials war ned that attempts to exploit loopholes would be severely dealt with. The companies were forced to recall all these stocks.

“The companies have told us that they are now exploring the possibility of coming out with 50ml plastic bottles,” she said. The Sunday Times was unable to confirm this from the companies.

Environmentalists support the idea. “While a 100ml bottle is reasonable and a more effective solution that people can still afford, even the 50ml bottle is a significant improvement from the sachet,” CEA Director Hemantha Withanage said.

Because of their size and thickness, sachets are difficult to pick up. They end up in drains and cause blockages. Shampoo sachet packets have print on them, making them unrecyclable. Plastic bottles are easier to collect, and if produced with the right material, can be recycled.

Mr. Withanage said an extended producer responsibility system was being studied and under this system the producer or agent would be responsible for ensuring by- products like packaging are recollected and recycled. The Chamber of Commerce was building the system but hasn’t legalised it.

According to a 2020 report by the National Audit Office, about 21,000 metric tonnes of plastic and polythene are added to Sri Lanka’s environment annually.

Apart from extended producer responsibility, the Environment Ministry is exploring how to incentivise customers to actively participate in collection efforts. One of the methods being considered is distribution of recycling cards to accumulate points that can then be redeemed for purchases.