November 16, Colombo (LNW): A parliamentary committee has urged the government to explore the creation of a sturdier, eco-friendly paper carrier as a practical alternative to the polythene bags still widely used across the country.
The recommendation came from the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability, which revisited the recent move to introduce a fee for polythene bags at the point of purchase.
Committee members said the proposal had stirred both public interest and uncertainty, prompting a closer look at whether the charge would genuinely curb reliance on polythene.
Committee chair Hector Appuhamy told officials that the policy’s effectiveness must be assessed carefully, noting that similar measures abroad had succeeded only when combined with accessible substitutes.
He added that environmentally sound paper bags—properly designed to withstand heavy use—could help both consumers and retailers transition away from single-use plastics.
Appuhamy also pressed for clarity on who had established the pricing mechanism for the proposed polythene charge. Officials replied that, contrary to public perception, the relevant Gazette notice did not actually stipulate a mandatory payment, suggesting that implementation details remain unsettled.
The Committee signalled that it will continue monitoring the issue, with several members hinting that broader reforms may be needed to meaningfully cut plastic waste in the long term.
