Polythene ban gazetted

The gazette notice on the ban on the manufacture, sale, offer for sale, offer free of charge, exhibition or use of the polythene or any polythene product below 20 microns was issued by the Mahaweli Development and Environment Ministry today.

The gazette notice also prohibits the manufacture of food wrappers from polythene as a raw material and the manufacture of food containers, plates, cups and spoons from expanded polystyrene within the country.

The use of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene products or polypropylene products as decorations at political, social, religious, national, cultural or any other event or occasion was also banned with effect from yesterday.

Meanwhile, the open burning of refuse and other combustible matters inclusive plastics was banned as a punishable offence under Section 31 of the National Environmental Act, No. 47 of 1980. (Thilanka Kanakarathna)