Sri Lanka bans use of single-use plastics to save elephants

The Sri Lankan government announced, on Tuesday (14), a total ban on the use of non-biodegradable single-use plastics to protect the environment, a measure partly motivated by the deaths of elephants and deer caused by ingesting plastic waste. 🐘

Posted by

Isabella Caminoto

February 14, 2023, 13:30

According to cabinet spokesperson and Minister of Communications, Bandula Gunawardana, the manufacture and sale of plastic products such as cutlery, cups, artificial flowers, among others, will be banned from June.

The measure meets the recommendations made by a committee of experts, appointed in 2021 to study the impact of plastic waste on the environment and fauna in the country.

Non-biodegradable plastic bags have been banned since 2017 due to concerns about flash flooding.

The import of plastic cutlery, cups, food packaging and even toys has been banned since 2021 following several deaths of elephants and deer in the northeast of the island. These animals fed in open dumps. 😔

#SriLanka single-use bans #plastics to save #elephants https://t.co/c7VufAxC5b pic.twitter.com/DZK929nwnL
— Environmental Investigation Agency (@EIA_News) February 14, 2023

According to necropsies, they had ingested plastic mixed with food remains.

Despite this, local manufacturing and sale of disposable products continued.

The highest authority in Sri Lanka on Asian elephants, Jayantha Jayewardene, welcomed the move, but said the ban should also apply to biodegradable plastic bags.

(To AFP)

Read also

Global treaty against plastic pollution could be ready by 2024

Humanity produces around 460 million tons of plastic per year. According to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), without urgent measures, this number will triple by 2060. In March 2022, during the 5th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly, in Nairobi, the resolution was approved to end plastic pollution – a historic milestone that promereverse this situation.

Despite restrictions, the world is creating more single-use plastic waste than ever, says report

The world is producing a record amount of single-use plastic waste – particularly that made from polymers created from fossil fuels – despite global efforts to reduce plastic pollution and carbon emissions. This is what a new report released this Monday (6) found.

Receive news and newsletters do Curto News by Telegram e WhatsApp.

This post was last modified on February 14, 2023 16:31 pm

Isabella Caminoto

Lawyer and master's student in International Law, I have democracy and freedom as undeniable flags. I am passionate about animals and believe that the well-being of our planet should be the daily highlight of our society's agenda.