By Kamanthi Wickramasinghe
20 million. That’s the number of plastic bags (or shopping bags) that are dumped into the environment on a daily basis in Sri Lanka. These bags are neither reusable nor recyclable. Of the many plastics that are dumped into the environment only 3% is recyclable. But even the PET bottles that can be recycled are randomly thrown away without being disposed to collection bins. This reduces the chances of these bottles being recycled as they are often dirty and cannot be reused. Realizing the growing threat that plastics impose on the environment, Nishshanka De Silva, a web designer by profession initiated the Zero Plastic National Movement back in 2021. Today this movement is geared to make an impactful change on Sri Lankan society.
20 million. That’s the number of plastic bags (or shopping bags) that are dumped into the environment on a daily basis in Sri Lanka. These bags are neither reusable nor recyclable. Of the many plastics that are dumped into the environment only 3% is recyclable. But even the PET bottles that can be recycled are randomly thrown away without being disposed to collection bins. This reduces the chances of these bottles being recycled as they are often dirty and cannot be reused. Realizing the growing threat that plastics impose on the environment, Nishshanka De Silva, a web designer by profession initiated the Zero Plastic National Movement back in 2021. Today this movement is geared to make an impactful change on Sri Lankan society.
“We are at risk of breathing microplastics every time we purchase a plastic item,” De Silva said in an interview with the Daily Mirror. “If a plastic item gets deformed after some time, this means micro particles have been released into the air. The plastics industry is backed by powerful multinational companies. So every time the government tries to implement a ban on single use plastics, they go and meet government officials and add pressure.”
“We are at risk of breathing microplastics every time we purchase a plastic item,” De Silva said in an interview with the Daily Mirror. “If a plastic item gets deformed after some time, this means micro particles have been released into the air. The plastics industry is backed by powerful multinational companies. So every time the government tries to implement a ban on single use plastics, they go and meet government officials and add pressure.”
At one point the government decided to reduce the thickness of shopping bags and introduce the use of paper cups and paper straws on various beverages and fast food items. But only a handful of people have opted to use reusable bags, paper or metal straws and reduce their contribution to pollute the environment.
At one point the government decided to reduce the thickness of shopping bags and introduce the use of paper cups and paper straws on various beverages and fast food items. But only a handful of people have opted to use reusable bags, paper or metal straws and reduce their contribution to pollute the environment.
Plastic items not only pollute the environment. They block waterways, pose threats to marine life and cause an irreversible impact on the environment. “It would take approximately 400 years for a shopping bag to decompose,”
Plastic items not only pollute the environment. They block waterways, pose threats to marine life and cause an irreversible impact on the environment. “It would take approximately 400 years for a shopping bag to decompose,”
He added. “We have the capacity to use alternatives but these multinational companies have manipulated the way people think. Therefore, people think it’s more convenient and cost-effective to purchase a plastic item than purchasing a broom with a wooden stick or a cloth bag to go shopping and basically say no every time a shopping bag is issued from a shop or a supermarket,” De Silva claimed.
He added. “We have the capacity to use alternatives but these multinational companies have manipulated the way people think. Therefore, people think it’s more convenient and cost-effective to purchase a plastic item than purchasing a broom with a wooden stick or a cloth bag to go shopping and basically say no every time a shopping bag is issued from a shop or a supermarket,” De Silva claimed.
