Sampath Bank partners Think Green for E-waste management initiative

Sampath Bank's Nature Protection Club recently entered in to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Think Green Pvt. Ltd for eco-friendly waste management at their head office, Sampath Center in Colombo 2.

Representing Sampath Bank, Managing Director Aravinda Perera and senior officials and Mr. Sivahar Muthuramalingam, CEO of Think Green Pvt Ltd signed the MoU documents.

Sampath Bank Nature Protection Club, in keeping with its philosophy "Green Actions for Green Planet" has disposed over 600 used computers under the first phase of the agreement.

Think Green, a pioneer in providing safe and reliable electronic e-waste management in Sri Lanka, has received the approval from the Central Environment Authority of Sri Lanka is an exporter, operating under the regulations of the UN-based conventions for trans boundary movement of hazardous content.

Electronic equipment and gadgets is the fastest growing waste stream in many countries including Sri Lanka. E-waste, or electronic waste, consists of everything from scrapped TVs, refrigerators and air conditioners to that old desktop computer that may be collecting dust in the closet. When disposed in land-filling, hazardous chemicals from the e-waste seep into the ground, leaving contaminated water and soil which remains in soil forever, endangering human life and other living beings. Thus, Sampath Bank Nature protection Club believes it is imperative electronic waste is disposed in a safe manner causing no harm to the environment.

Speaking during the MoU signing, Managing Director, Aravinda Perera said the Bank is committed towards protecting the environment and taken several key initiatives since1987. "The New Green Movement setting up of Nature Protection Club is part of the process. Today's partnership with Think Green Pvt. Ltd is to handle our e-waste, which is another step forward."

Commenting on the new MoU, Nanda Fernando, Acting Chief Operating officer, President of Sampath Nature Protection Club said, " As a step forward in protecting the environment for the future generation , the Bank is taking steps to engage in various projects which are environment-friendly. "The bank declared the Green day as May 20, 2013 and Month of June as Green Month. The staff of the Bank is engaged in working individually and collectively towards practicing the concepts of environment conservation which would certainly help to preserve natural resources as well as financial resources of the country."