02.10.2008
Sunil C.Perera in Colombo
 An
island wide programme has been implemented by the recent
Export Award Winner Kalhari Entreprises , Heyiyanthuduwa
to purchase used PET bottles, Polythene, Heavy Duty Plastics
, used Computers Electronic equipment ,any type of post
industrial Latex Based or dry Rubber based scraps,used tyres,Tubes,etc
which are hazardous to the environment .
Kalhari Entreprises which collects and recycles waste rubber
and plastics says this programme is now with the communities
"We started this venture since 2003 and we are expanding
our business to capture a big market share and earn plentiful
foreign income through this venture. We buy used plastics
and rubber products and pay handsome payments for the collectors
who reside all over the island, said CEO of the company
Kaushal Rajapaksa.
Speaking to media he said the company has commenced its
operations and now processes the waste PET bottles and other
plastics as well as Scrap and used tires and other rubber
waste.
The company invested ten million rupees in the venture to
collect plastic bottles and as well as creating awareness
among consumers. While appreciating the guidance and assistance
they receive from the Central Environment Authority, Waste
management Authority[Western Province] and the Ministry
of industries. Mr.Rajapaksa said that It is the prime responsibility
as Private sector to support the Programmes that have been
launched by the state authorities to usefully recycle the
Plastic,Rubber and other waste which will not only generate
income but also will solve the problems of waste.
"A lot of people are ignoring the issue of waste but
as a company with a strong sense of corporate social responsibility
we want to make the consumer and the private sector aware
of this issue."
PET bottles are used for soft drinks, fruit juices, oils
and other liquid products as the production cost is low
and the containers easy to handle.
PET is one of the most common materials used to pack a wide
range of food and beverages as well as other household products
such as detergents, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Over
six million PET bottles are improperly disposed every month
in Sri Lanka leading to many environmental issues.
Sri Lankan consumers use over 6.5 million PET bottles a
month and only 1.5 million are collected.
"We wanted to recycle all the PET plastic bottles in
Sri Lanka as they are non-bio degradable," He said.
The company exports over 250 metric tons of processed plastic
and rubber waste a month to India , USA, China,india,Malaysia
and to Japan, where there are more demand for recycled plastics.
"There is about 350 metric tons of PET produced and
consumed monthly in Sri Lanka, he said.
He said plans are underway to increase their monthly exports
.
Consumers are encouraged to collect PET bottles and hand
them over to the Company plant in Heyiyanthuduwa or a collector
in all areas.
The recycled PET bottles can be turned in to fiber-based
products, plastics, and carpets.
According to the Central Environment Authority the amount
of plastics recycled has almost doubled to 48 percent in
2007.
Plastics are made from a resource not generally known for
being environmentally friendly: petroleum. More than half
that packaging is plastic. While some plastics are readily
recyclable, and some are not. Plastics are used for an ever
in increasing variety of disposable as well as durable goods.
Plastics are inexpensive to produce are versatile. But tremendous
energy inputs go into making plastics, and they break down
slowly.
A network of collection sites, including rural collectors
in Sri Lanka have been set up where consumers can drop in
their old PET bottles and the collectors will pick them
up and drop them off at Kalhari Entreprises.
Due to the rising cost of Natural and synthetic rubbers
Industrialists venture into the usage of reclaim rubbers
,devulcanised or rubber Dust as a filler to bring down the
cost of their per Kg cost. In this process the Used tires
which are thrown all over is used for this purpose there
by taking care of all the pollution that it could cause
from Used tyres.. At present Kalhari enterprises is engaged
in the usage of Crumb rubber from the retreading process
and reducing the Size of the particles to obtain deferent
Mesh sizes as it is a good quality granulated rubber that
can be used for products such as automobile tyres,Solid
tires for fork lifts,Wheel barrows, floor mats, shoe soles,
, etc., and can be added to asphalt for road construction,
where it improves the quality of asphalt and the life time
too.
Mr.Kaushal said that they are in the process of setting
up a BOI factory for the recycle of tyres in the Vewahenwatta
Industrial Estate with the assistance of Ministry of industries
with the collaboration of an Italian company Namely Michaelngelo.
According to the company a number of collectors are working
with the company and also educates rural masses to help
to make a green environment.
"We have our own propaganda arm to educate school children
, public and the respective government officials and the
Pradeseeya Sabhas .They can earn additional income if they
involve this project, he said.
At present company maintains a healthy buyers network as
a result the company have a steady potential to purchase
any quantity of required plastics and rubber waste for recycling.
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Tyre crushing |
Bales
of the used plastics |
Ready
to ship |
Baleing
used plastic bottles |
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