Steps will be taken to issue the relevant gazette notification as soon as the recommendation from the Attorney General's Department is received for proscribing seven more disposable plastic products manufactured in our country, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.
The Minister said this while addressing a weekly meeting at the Ministry yesterday. He said the cabinet approval was granted during the previous cabinet meeting to ban the said number of plastic products.
"Earlier, the manufacturing of five single-use polythene and plastic products had been banned on March 31. We banned sachets that caused grave damage to the environment under that list. Currently, the market does not sell foodstuff packed in sachets and non-pharmaceutical sachets weighing less than 20 grams. Relevant companies have suspended the production and distribution of them, "he said.
"We banned lunch sheets made of polythene from August 1. Only perishable lunch wrapping sheets are sold in the market now," he said.
Therefore, cabinet approval was granted to ban another seven single-use plastic and polythene products, and the related gazette notification will be released soon after the AG Department recommendation.
Accordingly, plastic drinking straws and stirrers, plastic spoons, cups, knives, forks, plastic string hopper racks, plastic artificial turfs (except for indoor playgrounds), garlands made of plastic and polythene, incense sticks for any process, trade, or industry, grocery bags and ‘polythene shopping bags made of plastic and polythene measuring 12 inches in length, five inches wide, and 10 inches in width will be banned, Minister Amaraweera said.
These polythene and plastic products cause massive environmental damage. Almost none of these are ever re-assembled, and most of the products are set on fire or they may be discharged into the environment, eventually into drinking water sources and to the ocean, he said.
"Today our ocean is like the Beira Lake that existed before. International organisations predict that by 2050 there will be more polythene and plastic than the fish and mammals in the ocean," minister said.
Therefore, the support of all is envisaged for these steps taken to protect the environment of our country, he added. (Daily Mirror)