The Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on Environment, Natural Resources, and Sustainable Development has turned its attention to the process of collecting PET plastic bottles for recycling using a QR code system.
This initiative was discussed during a recent meeting of the SOC, chaired by MP Ajith Mannapperuma, according to the Parliamentary Communications Department.
The Committee Chair highlighted that while 450,000 tons of plastic are imported into Sri Lanka annually, only 50,000 tons are collected for recycling. A significant amount of plastic is burned in the open environment. The focus was specifically on PET plastic, with approximately 1,200 tons used monthly, but only 400 tons being recycled. The remaining 900 tons are improperly disposed of, ending up in rivers, canals, or burned in the open.
The main reason for the low collection rate of PET plastic bottles is the lack of financial incentive for the public. To address this, newspaper advertisements were published seeking technical and financial proposals from industry experts and stakeholders on implementing a deposit return scheme for PET plastic bottles using a QR code system, with a submission deadline of July 18.
However, industry representatives and stakeholders at the meeting pointed out that the given timeframe was insufficient. They requested the Committee to extend the submission deadline and make the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system mandatory.
After extensive discussion, the Committee recommended extending the proposal submission deadline from July 18 to August 27 and mandating the EPR system.
Additionally, officials from the Ministry of Environment were instructed to study and report on the methods used in other countries for collecting PET plastic bottles for recycling using QR codes.
Members of Parliament Jayantha Samaraweera and Dr. Thilak Rajapakshe were also present at the meeting.
