Page 28 - Plastics News September 2021

INTERNATIoNAL NEwS

Sri Lanka receives Beach Cleanup Machines China To Boost

To Remove X-Press Pearl Plastic Waste Plastics Recycling

he Marine Environment Protection reached out to the High Commission in hina will boost its plastic recycling
TAuthority (MEPA) of Sri Lanka June this year as it is a Global Non- Profit Cand incineration capabilities,
received eight (08) BeachTech Hydro that focuses on ending plastic waste promote "green" plastic products and
Sweepy beach cleaning machinery in the environment globally and were take action against the overuse of
worth about US$180,000, donated by concerned about the impact of plastic
Singapore-based global non-profit, the pellets from the X-Press Pearl incident
Alliance to End Plastic Waste (Alliance). and its possible impact on the marine
The donation was formally handed environment.The initial discussions
over by Foreign Secretary Admiral on assistance from the Alliance was
Prof. Jayanath Colombage to State held virtually with the participation of
Minister of Coast Conservation & High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to
Low-Lying Lands Development Mohan Singapore Sashikala Premawardhane,
Priyadarshana De Silva, and Chairperson Director General/ Ocean Affairs,
of Marine Environment Protection Environment and Climate Change of the
Authority Dharshani Lahandapura. Foreign Ministry Hasanthi Dissanayake, plastic in packaging and agriculture,
BeachTech Hydro Sweepy beach cleaning the General Manager of the Marine it said in a 2021-2025 "five-year plan"
machines manufactured by Kässbohrer Environment Protection Authority published on this month.The National
Geländefahrzeug AG, a company in (MEPA) Dr. Terney Pradeep Kumara, Development and Reform Commission
Germany, are capable of effectively and and Alliance representatives Vice (NDRC), the top state planning agency,
efficiently cleaning up the plastic nurdles President of Projects Nicholas Kolesch, said in a notice that China needed to
and other types of waste. Another Head of Outreach and Education improve 'the entire chain of plastic
advantage of the machine is that beach Kim Stengert, and Head, Government pollution control', which it described as
clean-up can be done in a safe manner and Public Affairs Ravi Alfreds.The a "worldwide problem"."The essence
minimizing the human contact with coordination effort of getting the of plastic pollution is that plastic waste
hazardous materials.These machines machines to Sri Lanka involved officials leaks into natural environments like
are expected to help with the clean-up from the Sri Lanka High Commission in soil and water and is hard to degrade,
of plastic waste from the ship X-Press Singapore, Sri Lanka Consulate General causing visual pollution, soil damage,
Pearl, which sank off Sri Lanka’s West in Frankfurt, Foreign Ministry, MEPA microplastics and other environmental
Coast in May 2021 causing significant and SriLankan Airlines. Chairman hazards," an NDRC spokesman said.
environmental damage.The donation was SriLankan Airlines Ashok Pathirage The new five-year plan will encourage
coordinated by the High Commission agreed to transport the machinery from retailers and delivery firms to cut
of Sri Lanka in Singapore.The Alliance Frankfurt to Colombo. "unreasonable" plastic packaging and
raise waste urban incineration rates to
around 800,000 tonnes per day by 2025,
up from 580,000 tonnes last year. It will
ban the production of ultra-thin plastic
bags nationwide as well as personal care
products that contain plastic microbeads,
which are banned in the United States
and Europe.It will also promote the use
of alternative products such as bamboo,
wood, paper and new biodegradable
plastics, it said. It also wants to boost
recycling rates for agricultural plastic
mulch to 85%. A new solid waste law
also came into effect last year.

28 PLASTICS NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021 29 PLASTICS NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021