This document discusses plastic recycling in Sri Lanka. It details the recycling process which involves sorting, washing, shredding and extruding plastic materials. It notes that plastic recycling is a highly polluting industry that emits toxic fumes and dissolved compounds. While larger recyclers now separate materials more cleanly, small recyclers lack proper treatment facilities. The document recommends increasing public awareness, government oversight of the industry, and reducing plastic use to improve sustainability of plastic recycling in Sri Lanka.

2. 250000bottles/hour

3. Million/month

6. Pabasara Gunawardane

7. Recycling In Sri Lanka
(Society of the Plastic Industry, 1987)

8.  Sorting
 Washing
 Shredding
 Extruding

15.  Highly polluting industry – EPL ‘A’ category
 Emission standards are published in gazette
extraordinary No. 1534/18 of 01.02.2008

17.  Dissolved solids and dissolved aromatic
compounds are present.
 Passing though resin beds and activated
carbon filtration is practiced
 Hot water is re-used by cooling
 Larger scale plastic collectors clean the
materials separately now

18.  Gaseous emission from machines during
plastic heating process - Wet scrubbing,
Using safety wears
 Dust and particles –
Better housekeeping

19.  Almost everything is re-used
 Un re-usable matter will be sent to
incineration.
 Machines in operation - Enclose in a room to
avoid noise, dissemination; servicing and
lubrication of machines
 Vibration - Proper mounting of machinery

20.  Plastic is melted during the recycling process,
which causes it to break down and release the
chemicals used to make it.
 Recycling plastic is associated with skin and
respiratory problems resulting from exposure
to and inhalation of toxic fumes, especially
hydrocarbons and residues released during
the recycling process
 Heating and reheating also degrades plastic

21.  Small scale recyclers have low facilities for the
treatment processes.
 The production of ‘Virgin’ plastic cannot be
reduced.
 The environmental quality of the countries
where new materials are made from recycled
plastics will be degraded. (China, India and
Malaysia)

22.  Waste segregation practices should be strictly followed in
the country
 The monitoring of the discharged waste water/air and
solids by the recycling plant should be monitored
frequently
 The government should involve more effectively to the
industry
 Reduction of the use of plastics nationwide
 More safety measures should be taken when handling the
recycling process
 Increasing the awareness among the public

23.  Mr. Anura Jasenthuliyana
Managing Director
Ecosans Plastics Ltd.
 Mr. Sampath Wijekoon
Information Center
National Post Consumer Plastic waste Management
Project

24.  Container recycling institute(2014), Plastic Facts & Statistics, available on
http://www.container-recycling.org/index.php/factsstatistics/plastic Accessed
on 10th May 2015
 Biofina group (2013), 5 Stages of the Plastic Recycling Process, Available at
http://biofinagroup.com/5-stages-of-the-plastic-recycling-process/ Accessed
on 10th May 2015
 Ronnin, James (2011), Recycling Plastics May Be Better than Wasting, but Can Be
Toxic, Too, http://www.eurekarecycling.org/page.cfm?ContentID=126 last
access on 10th May 2015
 Ministry of finance and Planning(2014), Environment guidelines for SMEs Sri
Lanka.