The total amount of plastic imported into the country from 2012 to 2018 was 3353.8 million kilograms at a cost of over Rs.184 billion.
This was revealed during a recent Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) meeting.
The COPE observed that the current plastic import volumes were at an unbearable level due to the improper implementation of waste management, resulting in significant environmental degradation.
The COPE directed the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) to discourage the import of polythene raw materials and to provide and promote eco-friendly replacement products to consumers.
The COPE noted that the cost of plastic imports for the above period was Rs. 184,300.9 million, the Parliament communication division in a communiqué said.
Analysis of Import Data shows that the volume of imports has increased rapidly from 2012 to 2017, having peaked in that year. The Committee is of the view that the Ministry of Local Government and Local Government authorities should be involved in the collection and disposal and management of plastic waste and that the rules on food wrapping and food packaging and disposal of disposable plastic products should be strengthened expeditiously.
The COPE also observed that no standard has been set for biodegradable food wrappers currently in the market, and no selling price has been set. The Committee therefore emphasised the need to set a standard and control price for biodegradable food wrappers.
The COPE observed that no research has yet been done on chemical and biological transformations that occur after the release of biodegradable raw materials into the environment, such as when the polymer reaches the water, soil, marine environment and waste management yards.
Although the National Policy on Waste Management was approved by the Cabinet on October 10, 2019, the COPE expressed its displeasure that it has not yet been implemented.
The COPE also recommended that the National Environmental Act should be amended soon.
COPE Committee Chairman, Prof. Charitha Herath, instructed the Environment Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe to expedite the revision of the National Environmental Act, which has been in the process of being updated for over 20 years.
He said that although amendments to the Act were discussed at length, it was a problem that it had not been implemented so far. The Chairman also informed the Central Environmental Authority that certain institutions were obstructing the work on amending the Act and that action should be taken to address those issues.
