Banned but available everywhere: the long life of polyethylene bags in Sri Lanka

Banned since 2017, the Minister of Environment himself admits that state agencies have not taken sufficient measures to curb their widespread use. Environmentalists: burning them for disposal produces toxic gases. But behind the failure to abandon them are, above all, the absence of intervention at production sites and the lack of affordable alternatives.

Colombo (AsiaNews) - According to environmental experts and civil society organisations, despite the publication of various notices in the official gazette and regulatory measures in recent years, the illegal production and distribution of polyethylene bags and other banned plastics continues unabated throughout Sri Lanka. The problem is caused by inconsistent policy enforcement, weak institutional coordination and a lack of collective action.

Last week, Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi acknowledged at a press conference that ‘state agencies have not yet taken sufficient measures to curb the widespread use of illegal polyethylene. In addition, there is a constant demand from society for cheaper polyethylene products, which fuels the black market.’ He stressed that government institutions must take a leading role in introducing viable alternatives, as legislation alone cannot prevent the problem from worsening.

‘It is necessary to inform the public of the serious environmental risks arising from the continued use of illegal polyethylene. We also expect to encourage researchers to work on alternatives, with financial support secured through discussions with private sector organisations willing to collaborate with us.’

The Sri Lankan government issued a ban on the production, sale, storage and import of various types of polyethylene items in 2017 and reiterated it in 2023. Environmentalists Sachin Arsakularathna and Pradeepa Gamage remind AsiaNews that "the main responsibility for implementing these laws lies with the Central Environment Authority (CEA).

Prohibited items such as lightweight shopping bags, lunch wraps and various types of coloured or ultra-lightweight bags are still available. The law is clear, but to date, no institution has filed a lawsuit or closed a production facility for violating these bans, thanks in part to political cover. Polyethylene is not a biodegradable material, is not easily disposable and must be incinerated.

Its combustion emits toxic gases, including dioxins that can cause strokes, cancer and heart and respiratory diseases. Children and the elderly are most vulnerable to these diseases.

According to scholars Geethanjali Wickramasinghe and Udara Samaradiwakara, behind the failure to actually abandon polyethylene 'there are many interconnected socio-economic, behavioural and systemic reasons, including the low cost of production and high demand for these items, which are cheaper than environmentally friendly alternatives such as biodegradable or fabric bags. Small retailers, especially in rural and semi-urban areas, opt for polyethylene to reduce costs.

Although the problem is treated as an environmental issue, it is also a consumer and trade issue. The lack of stable policy regimes for the entire supply chain, from production taxes to sales practices, has led to inconsistent gazette notifications and weak enforcement."

For his part, lawyer and co-founder of the Centre for Environmental Justice, Ravindranath Dabare, believes that "polyethylene products in circulation do not display identifying details such as the manufacturer's name, address or even a contact number. This lack of traceability is a key reason why illegal manufacturers can operate so easily. Successive governments have failed to make basic product identification mandatory."

According to the founder of the ZeroPlastics movement, Nissanka de Silva, ‘the CEA does not have the necessary personnel to conduct regular searches throughout the country. Most illegal manufacturers operate from mobile or temporary facilities, making them difficult to locate. Promoting alternatives is essential, but the market must not be allowed to put people's health at risk.’

Photo: Wikipedia / Tharmapalan Tilaxan