The Police Environment Protection Division partners Coca-Cola’s ‘Give Back Life’ PET Plastic recycling project to mark World Environment Day 2020

Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Ltd. launched its latest partnership with the Police Environment Protection Division to expand the collection and recycling of PET plastic. The partnership was formalized at an event at the Sri Lanka Police DIG Office in Colombo 01 on 3rd June 2020 to commemorate World Environment Day 2020. The significant occasion was attended by the Senior DIG – Western Province Deshabandu Thennakoon, DIG – Environment and Community Policing Muditha Pussella,  Director of the Police Environment Protection Division SP D.K. Priyantha, Divisional SSPs of Colombo North, South and Central, OICs and Officers of the Police Environment Protection Division, and other senior police officials along with senior dignitaries of Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Ltd., Eco Spindles the recycling partner and Eco Friends the collection partner in the project.

At the event, Coca-Cola handed over twenty-two, 50 Kg PET collection bins to the Police Environment Protection Division, which will be located at 22 strategic locations in Colombo under the direct purview of the respective police stations with the objectives of expanding the collection of PET plastic, reducing pollution and conserving the environment.  

Commenting at the occasion, the Managing Director of Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Ltd. Mayank Arora said: “Coca-Cola is very pleased to partner with the Police Environment Protection Division to accelerate the habit of recycling PET plastic in Colombo, to mark  World Environment Day 2020. We are grateful for this exciting partnership. The ‘Give Back Life’ program’s long-term vision is to work with a host of strategic partners to deliver meaningful action towards a circular economy in which materials are used and reused to provide ongoing value. It is our desire to scale this partnership across the country in time to come.”

Coca-Cola strongly advocates that post-consumed PET plastic is material that has inherent ‘value’ and cannot be categorized as ‘waste’, as it is a 100% recyclable and can create value-added products such as bristles for cleaning brushes, brooms or recycled polyester yarn for shoes, clothing, etc. Give Back Life also contributes to creating a circular economy, increasing export earnings, and expanding livelihood opportunities for local communities.

The Senior DIG of the Western Province, Deshabandu Thennakoon added: “The Police Environment Protection Division can play a crucial role in driving the message of recycling PET plastics amongst the public. On the occasion of the World Environment Day, we believe the ‘Give Back Life’ project is an ideal cause for Sri Lanka’s Police Environment Protection Division to champion. Plastic pollution is a real threat and jeopardizes the sustainability of our environment. Each of us have a moral responsibility to ensure we dispose PET plastics appropriately, thus allowing the packaging to enjoy the opportunity of another life.”

Give Back Life’s PET recovery and recycling efforts is a real solution to fill infrastructure gaps in waste collection schemes both at national and local levels in Sri Lanka. Around the world,  Coca-Cola is committed towards helping create a ‘World Without Waste’ by collecting and recycling the equivalent of 100% of its packaging by 2030.