Though plastic is perceived as a major cost towards maintaining the environment, it has a lot of value to human life, according to an industry official.
Sunil Liyanage, President of the Plastics and Rubber Institute Sri Lanka (PRI) was responding to a question from a reporter at a news conference as to why people in Sri Lanka blame plastics because it has become a great hindrance to the environment, though it is identified as very important to human life. Mr Liyanage said that these accusations are made by people who do not know the real value of plastics.
The media briefing was callled to announce PRI’s annual awards night on March 26.
Mr Liyanage said that they primarily focus on educational activities and conduct a 3-year graduate course, a nine month Rubber/Plastics diploma course and a three month basic course in Rubber/Plastic in Sinhala Medium to benefit the pertinent industries.
Speaking of rubber and plastics, he said that world over plastic has become part of the human life. He said that average plastic use in the developed countries is in the range of 100 kgs per person while in Sri Lanka the average is around 5 to 6 kgs. But Sri Lanka faces a problem in plastics and the problem lies in the waste plastics recycling.
He said that PRI has been recognized as a professional body by the government and they are being consulted on various policy and technical issues and their members serve in decision making panels and policy making bodies.
The Business Times asked Mr Liyanage whether their institute as a responsible professional body has formulated any comprehensive waste plastics recycling operation that would end this perennial problem. He said that they have no such plan. |
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