July 24, Colombo (LNW): The Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on Environment, Natural Resources, and Sustainable Development discussed the collection of PET plastic bottles for recycling using a QR code system during its meeting on Friday (12) under the Chairmanship of MP Ajith Mannapperuma.
MP Ajith Mannapperuma highlighted that although 450,000 tons of plastic are imported into the country each year, only 50,000 tons are collected for recycling, with a significant amount being burnt in the open. He emphasized that special attention should be given to PET plastic. Approximately 1,200 tons of PET plastic are used in the country each month, yet only 400 tons are recycled, leaving 900 tons improperly disposed of in the environment, including rivers, canals, and open burning sites.
The main reason for the low collection rate of PET plastic bottles is the lack of public interest due to the low resale price of these bottles.
In response to this issue, newspaper advertisements were published seeking technical and financial proposals from industrialists and other stakeholders for a method of returning deposits for PET plastic bottles based on a QR code, with a submission deadline of July 18. However, stakeholders at the meeting argued that the given period was insufficient. They requested an extension for proposal submissions and suggested making the Extended Producer Responsibility system mandatory.
The Committee recommended extending the proposal submission period from July 18 to August 27 and making the Extended Producer Responsibility system mandatory.
Additionally, officials from the Ministry of Environment were instructed to conduct a study on international methods of collecting PET plastic bottles for recycling using QR codes and report their findings to the SOC.
MP Jayantha Samaraweera and Dr. Thilak Rajapakshe also attended the meeting.
