Plastics that are used only once before being thrown away are called single-use plastics. But some single-use plastic products are used for re-consumption for a short time before being thrown away. Single-use plastic is also a type of plastic which has been used increasingly for several decades. The consequences of this waste of plastic on the environment and human health are broad and may be serious.
In conjunction with the progress of technology, people worldwide are always looking for new technology to make their daily work easier and more convenient. In order to maintain the freshness of food and water, single-use plastic wrappers and containers are often used. For practical purposes, such as wrapping, this kind of plastic is the preferred option due to its affordability, adaptability, and safety.
Polyethylene and plastic are widely used to manufacture packaging and bags around the world. Currently, there has been a huge increase in the use of polythene and plastic globally. Some inventions, such as single-use plastics and non-biodegradable polymers, have been regarded as extremely advantageous; but due to their rapid use or manufacture, they are now having direct and indirect negative effects on the biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem.
Figure 1 – commonly used single-use plastics (Source – Internet)
Examples of single-use plastics include plastic forks and knives, plastic grocery bags, plastic cups and cup covers, plastic water bottles, plastic containers, and plastic drinking straws. Plastic sticks with cotton buds used to clean ears, plastic cutlery / saucers and plates, plastic drinking straws and plastic stirrers, plastic balloons, plastic food containers, plastic cup bottles and other beverage containers used for filling drinks, plastic products such as plastic bags/packets and other plastic wrappers, sanitary material containers are the most focused items under single-use plastics.
Plastic waste has become a problem that poses the greatest threat to the world today. Single-use plastics and other plastic products, such as polythene bags, have grown to be a serious environmental concern on a worldwide scale. The environment is greatly impacted by the usage of plastic and polythene bags, which are regarded as single-use plastics. According to the statistics by 2050, the amount of polythene entering the ocean will be very high. By that time, it has been predicted that the amount of polythene will increase more than the fish species living in the ocean.
Although numerous alternatives have been introduced to replace plastic and polythene, there is still a lack of community acceptance of new products made with biodegradable materials rather than non-biodegradable polythene.
Every year, about 16% of the plastic generated worldwide is recycled. However, it is feasible to turn the waste plastic back into oil via a chemical recycling method known as endless recycling, but this process uses a considerable amount of energy.
Global movement of banning single-use plastics
Following the official start of negotiations on a UN treaty aimed at reducing plastic pollution in November 2022, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) convened its first meeting in Uruguay in December 2022. Consequently, a second round of negotiations, known as INC-2, was conducted in Paris in May 2023.Many nations have enacted laws banning or restricting the use of single-use plastic throughout history as a result of becoming aware of the negative impacts that this product has on the environment, society, and public health. Accordingly:
California became the first state to ban single-use plastic bags in 2014, and in 2018 it became the first state to partially ban plastic straws.
The government of Bangladesh became the first country to completely ban lightweight plastic bags in 2002. This came after the country suffered severe flooding due to plastic bag waste that submerged more than two-thirds of the country.
The United States banned the use of plastic micro-beads in cosmetics and other personal hygiene products in 2015. A number of other nations have also banned the use of micro beads in detergents, including the UK, Canada, Taiwan, and New Zealand.
The sale of plastic bags has been outlawed in Victoria, Australia, and Mexico City has started to enforce a similar prohibition.
In 2018, the European Union banned ten single-use plastic products, such as drinking straws made of plastic and Styrofoam.
The government of Ruwandaprioritized environmental conservation, enacting a ban on single-use plastic bags in 1994.
Plastic drinking straws, plastic sticks with cotton buds, and plastic straws were all set to be outlawed in Britain starting in April 2018. By 2050, Wales wants to produce zero waste.
A number of African nations have passed legislation outlawing the manufacture and consumption of plastic bags.
Major supermarkets are no longer allowed to provide single-use plastic bags as a result of Thailand’s decision to outlaw single-use plastics.
In addition to the nations listed above, numerous other nations have implemented policies aimed at outlawing or minimizing the global use of plastic and polythene.
Single-use plastic in Sri Lanka.
Plastic waste is also a significant environmental issue for Sri Lanka. An estimated 1.59 million tons of plastic trash are mishandled each year in Sri Lanka; about half of this waste finds its way into rivers, canals, and eventually the ocean, posing a threat to aquaticecosystems. The primary regulating organization, the Central Environment Authority, is in charge of coming up with a solution for this issue. Thus, using the authority granted by the National Environmental Act, the Central Environment Authority of Sri Lanka has taken several initiatives to minimize the utilization of plastic and ban the single-use plastics during recent past following an assessment of the detrimental effects of single-use plastic consumption.
According to the powers vested in the Section 23w of the National Environmental Act, No. 47 of 1980, during the recent past number of EXTRAORDINARY Gazettes of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka have been published as follows.
EXTRAORDINARY Gazettes published on first of September, 2017.
This Extraordinary Gazettespublished on Friday September 01, 2017 bring number of regulations related to the production and consumption of polythene and plastic as follows.
(1). EXTRAORDINARY Gazette No. 2034/33
This Gazette prohibits the manufacture, sale, exhibition, or use of polythene or any polythene product of 20 micron or below-thickness products within the country, unless written approval from the Authority is required for the purposes specified in the gazette.
(2). EXTRAORDINARY Gazette No. 2034/34
This gazette prohibits the manufacture of food wrappers from polythene as a raw material for in country use; and the sale, offer for sale, offer free of charge, exhibition or use of food wrappers manufactured from polythene as a raw material within the country as well.
(3). EXTRAORDINARY Gazette No. 2034/35
This gazette prohibits activities such as manufacturing high-density polyethylene bags for in-country use, selling, offering for sale, offering free of charge, exhibition, or use within the country. This includes grocery bags known as “Sili bags.”
(4). EXTRAORDINARY Gazette No. 2034/36
This gazette prohibits open burning of refuse and other combustible matters inclusive of plastics, including plastics. Any person who fails to comply with the regulations above shall be liable to an offence.
(5). EXTRAORDINARY Gazette No. 2034/37
This Gazette prohibits the use of all forms of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene products or polypropylene products as decoration in political, social, religious, national, cultural or any other event or occasion.
(6). EXTRAORDINARY Gazette No. 2034/38 published on Friday September 01, 2017.
This Gazette prohibits the manufacture of food containers, plates, cups and spoons from expanded polystyrene for in country use; and the sale, offer for sale, offer free of charge, exhibition or use of food containers (lunch boxes), plates, cups and spoons manufactured from expanded polystyrene within the country.
EXTRAORDINARY Gazette No. 2211/51 – THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021
This Extraordinary Gazetteprohibits the use of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material for packing agrochemicals used for any process, trade or industry; any plastic item specified in the gazette for any process, trade or industry; sachets having less than or equal to a net volume of 20ml/ net weight of 20g (except for packing food and medicines); Inflatable toys (except balloons, balls, water floating/pool toys and water sports gear); Cotton buds with plastic stems (except plastic cotton buds used for medical/clinical treatment) of following items with effect from March 31st, 2021.
EXTRAORDINARY, ‘No. 2341/30 – WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2023
According this Extraordinary Gazette it has been prohibited the use of the Single-use drinking-straws and stirrers, single-use food containers, plates, cups, spoons, forks and knives ( except in air travels), Garlands, String hopper trays. Aforementioned plastic items and the use of the said items in any process, trade or industry for in country use have been prohibited with effect from October 01, 2023. For the purposes of this Order- “cups” includes drinking cups but does not include yoghurt cups; “food containers” means the meal boxes manufactured from expanded polystyrene for in country use,
Even with all of aforementioned laws and regulations in place, the community must be involved in order to find a solution to this problem, Inspiring and motivating others, transforming people’s behaviors, adhering to existing laws and regulations, promoting community involvement to reduce plastic or single-use plastic consumption, and living an environmentally conscious life are all important steps toward solving the plastics problem. We should Reduce, Reuse, Recycle in addition to cutting down on the amount of plastic we throw away. It is essential to raise a future generation free from plastic garbage using appropriate waste management techniques in order to achieve the sustainability and live in a clean, green, and healthy environment.
Venura Fernando
Chairman
Central Environment Authority.
