Usage of prohibited polythene drops big -CEA

By Sheain Fernandopulle  
There was a substantial decline in the consumption of polythene categories that were banned, especially in Colombo, where polythene was highly consumed, CEA’s Director of Investigations N. F. Gamage told Daily Mirror Metro.   

“The Central Environment Authority (CEA) carried out more than 10,450 raids islandwide since 2018 January.  A majority of them were in Colombo and catchment areas,”  he said.

“During the raids, more than 810 places were found engaged in production, sale or using polythene products using High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) (A prohibited polythene material),” Mr Gamage said.   

“Majority of the raids are pertaining to detection of banned ‘lunch sheets’ which are high in usage. However, we have also conducted raids to seize other banned items like rigifoam boxes, grocery bags and shopping bags,” he added.   

The CEA commenced island wide programmes to raid illegal ‘lunch sheet’ producers, sellers and users from January last year.   

The regulation published under Section 23W of the National Environmental Act-No. 2034/34 (September 1, 2017), prohibited the manufacture of food wrappers from polythene as a raw material for use in the country with effect from September 1, 2017.   

However, this regulation was fully enforced with effect from January 2018 after being given a grace period to adhere to the new law by manufacturers.   

The CEA has banned the use of polythene lunch sheets, rigifoam boxes and shopping bags, with effect from September 1, 2017.   

In a bid to make Sri Lanka polythene-free and find a sustainable solution to solid waste management, President Maithripala Sirisena announced a number of measures including the ban on the import, manufacture and sale of lunch sheets and a ban on the use of polythene for decorations.   

The CEA officials carry out raids together with the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) and Police Special Unit of the CEA.  The CEA destroys detected polythene items  at a Sanitary Landfill Site located in Dompe, which is constructed and  operated by the CEA for safe disposal of non-biodegradable waste  material.