Government : Collecting PET plastic bottles for recycling

The SOC on Environment, Natural Resources, and Sustainable Development is focusing on the collection of PET plastic bottles for recycling using QR codes.

The Parliamentary Communications Department stated that the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development convened in Parliament chaired by MP Ajith Mannapperuma recently.

The Chair of the Committee mentioned that despite 450,000 tons of plastic being brought into the country annually, only 50,000 tons are recycled while a significant portion is burned in the open environment.

In addition, it was stressed that the focus should primarily be on PET plastic. Despite the fact that around 1200 tons of PET plastic are utilized each month in this nation, only 400 tons are recycled, with the remaining 900 tons being improperly disposed of into the environment. It was also emphasized that this plastic is dumped in rivers and canals, burned in the open air, and buried in the ground.

It was revealed that the primary obstacle to collecting PET plastic bottles is the public’s disinterest, which stems from the absence of payment for the bottles.

Newspaper ads were put out seeking technical and financial proposals from industrialists and experts on PET plastic bottles to implement a QR code-based deposit return system by July 18.

Nevertheless, industry leaders and attending parties have noted that the allocated time frame is inadequate. Therefore, the parties in attendance asked the Committee to lengthen the deadline for proposal submission and require the Extended Producer Responsibility system.

The Committee, after a thorough discussion with everyone in attendance, suggested that the deadline for proposal submissions be extended from July 18th to August 27th and that the Extended Producer Responsibility system become compulsory.

Additionally, officials from the Ministry of Environment were directed to conduct research and submit a report to the Committee on international practices for collecting PET plastic bottles for recycling using QR codes.

END.