Single use plastic and polythene to be banned

By Easwaran Rutnam 

Single use plastic and polythene will be banned in Sri Lanka from January 1, 2021, the Government announced yesterday.   

Cabinet co-spokesman Udaya Gammanpila said that while several plastic and polythene items will be banned, alternative options have been proposed.   

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal presented by the Minister of Environment to ban several products from January 1, 202I and to introduce alternative items with a view of reducing single use plastic and polythene waste.   

Accordingly, it has been decided to prohibit the use of packaging of chemicals or pesticides in Poly Ethylene Terephthalate (PET) and Vinyl Chloride (PVC) containers and instead use packaging made of glass or other raw materials as an alternative.   

It has also been decided to ban sachets made of polythene and plastic less than 20 ml/20 g and instead use packages of 100 ml/100 g or more as an alternative (excluding food and medicine).   

Various inflatable toys made of plastic (excluding balloons, balls and floating toys) will also be banned while toys made of eco-friendly and hygienic raw material has been proposed as an alternative   

Plastic cotton buds (excluding hygiene products) will also be banned while cotton buds made from biodegradable materials has been proposed as an alternative.