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| Thursday, 9 October 2003 |
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Plastic imports to be taxed by Florence Wickramage A tax of 1.0% and 1.5% will be imposed on plastic raw materials at the point of import, and the entirety of the revenue generated will be deposited in a special Plastics Account at the Central Environmental Authority. This is one among proposals the Cabinet has approved to introduce a series of initiatives to control pollution due to improper disposal of plastic and other waste. The proposals were submitted for Cabinet approval by the Environment and Natural Resources Minister Rukman Senanayake. In addition the Ministry has obtained approval to establish a Plastics Partnership Committee, made up of representatives of the Plastics and Rubber Manufacturing Institute, the Central Environmental Authority and the Ministry of Finance. Ministry sources said that the revenue collected from the tax on plastics imports will fund an awareness campaign to urge the public to be environmentally conscious and to dispose of all waste methodically to create a tidier Sri Lanka. The fund will also fund environmental education, incentives for recycling projects, pilot projects implemented through local authorities and the provision of grants to the plastics industry to assist in the production of bio-degradable and environmentally safe plastics. Incentives will also be given to initiate pilot projects on garbage separation and recycling industries. The Cabinet has also approved a total ban on `sili sili' bags and lunch sheets in all government buildings, offices and premises including national parks,cultural and archaeological sites, schools and playgrounds. All political parties have also being urged not to use plastic decorations in public places. |
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