PROPOSED NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT ACT TO INTRODUCE NEW LAWS

By AJITH SIRIWARDANA

The proposed new National Environment Act has introduced key new features such as the extended producer responsibility (EPR), which the producers are bound to collect Plastic PET bottles used by beverage and bottled water producers, Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi said yesterday.

He told the Daily Mirror that the draft bill of the National Environment (Amended) Act received Cabinet approval and that it will be published in the government gazette notification and subsequently will be submitted to Parliament for its concurrence.

The Minister said the National Environment Act is being amended after 25 years.

He said the new Act has proposed to strengthen the powers of some institutions, such as the Central Environment Authority (CEA).

“The CEA had only the power to issue guidelines in solid waste management. But in the new Act, the CEA will be entrusted with powers to take action also,” he said.