Make supermarkets accountable for polythene waste

27 November 2025 12:00 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 3 Bookmark

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From November 1, supermarkets began charging Rs. 3.00 for small shopping bags and Rs. 5.00 for large ones. While this token charge has reduced polythene use slightly, it has done little to change consumer behaviour. Many shoppers continue to pay these small sums without a second thought—while supermarkets keep profiting and the environment keeps suffering.

Let’s be clear: selling polythene bags, even for a price, doesn’t solve the problem—it sustains it. As long as supermarkets can sell these bags, they have no incentive to stop. This approach merely shifts the cost to the customer while pollution continues unchecked.

A practical and fair solution is simple: introduce a refundable deposit system for eco-friendly reusable bags. Customers can pay a deposit when taking the bag and get that amount refunded when they return it. This will make supermarkets part of the solution instead of part of the problem.

The Central Environmental Authority (CEA), the Ministry of Environment, and the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) must take this proposal seriously. Environmental protection cannot depend on public goodwill alone—it requires policy action that holds every stakeholder accountable.

If we truly want to curb polythene pollution, it’s time to stop selling the problem and start rewarding the solution.

Mohamed Zahran

Colombo

Comments - 3

Adwani Thursday, 27 November 2025 11:13 AM

The solution is simple, shopping bags are by-products of petroleum and inflammable and can easily be destroyed. But the solutions so far proposed are like, to kill the user and save the bags.

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mcm Friday, 28 November 2025 01:09 PM

Last week a customer in front of me, at a supermarket, was asked whether he wanted a bag for his purchases and that it would cost him Rs. 3. He walked over to the vegetables section, tore off 2 bags and brought it to the counter to carry his purchases. Changing the mindset of our people is a different game.

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Customers Sunday, 30 November 2025 03:58 AM

Even if the customer pays for a polythene bag, it is still thrown away to the environment, customer is not going to save that polythene bag in a cupboard!!! People are burdened enough already. There has to be an alternative for not using polythene bags. The other day I was given a loaf of bread without a bag! Ridiculous!! Why can't we produce biodegradable bags??

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