Waste recyclers, collectors earn mega bucks

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

Networking among collectors and recyclers of plastic and polythene waste under the National Post Consumer Plastic Waste Management Project is progressing well. Nearly 70 recyclers and collectors have registered by January 1 under the project.

Programme Assistant I. Razeen said the project is implemented in Colombo and Gampaha districts within the first year of the project period under the supervision of the Central Environmental Authority.

There are 16 collectors and recyclers in Colombo district 22 in the Gampaha district and 30 recyclers in other districts.

Razeen said they meet once a month at the Central Environmental Authority in Battaramulla to review the progress .

Protecting the environment from getting polluted is one of their major concerns and that has given positive results from this project he said.

The major collector and recycler in Colombo District A.S. Illiyas who has been doing this business for the last ten years said his business has further improved after this networking programme initiated by the Central Environmental Authority.

He has recycling plants in Sedawatte and Wattala. He has invested Rs two million for each plant. “We have a separate team to collect and bring plastic and polythene waste to our plants and each of them earn around Rs. 30,000 to 40,000 a month.

As the prices of raw material are going up we get a good price” he said. Illiyas plans to further expand his business by tapping the Industrial Zone. But he has not got a positive response yet from the Government to his request for a land to set up a recycling plant in the zone. He had the capacity to get an output of 60 metric tons per month earlier and now it has increased upto 100 metric tons.

“People could call the nearest buyer to sell their plastic and polythene except laminated polythene and earn an income,” he said.