Letters to the Editor
View(s):Supermarkets in Kandy have a social obligation to collect plastic and polythene waste
An area where consumers and householders can cut down on the adverse effects of plastic and polythene packaging generated from items purchased at supermarkets is through recycling.
Leading supermarkets chains encourage customers to bring their own bags and containers and provide single-use plastic bags to customers. This is not the solution to the problem of plastic and polythene packaging that gets piled up in households. Installation of large plastic bins by a leading supermarket chain at their major outlets in Colombo and its suburbs for collection and recycling of plastic and polythene, although a welcome deed, does not cover leading towns like Kandy and Galle, to name a few.
The packaging- plastic and polythene; containers, wrappings and bags that come with groceries, food and household items such as ice cream, liquid milk, yoghurt, curd, spreads, cooking oil, toiletries, drinking water, mineral waters, dish wash liquids, detergents, from supermarkets are numerous. Customers take home substantial quantities of these, depending on the size of the household. The majority of the customers have no means of getting rid of these items as the Urban Councils and Provincial Councils concentrate on the regular collection of garbage from kitchens, but, not plastic and polythene. Hence, urban and suburban householders, burn the plastic and the polythene they bring from supermarkets, in their backyards. Poisonous fumes and smoke have become a part of the congested urban and suburban neighbourhoods. This action pollutes the environment and has harmful effects on human health; especially in children and the aged.
Several companies in the country are recycling plastics and polythene delivered to them in bulk. However, individual customers of supermarkets have no way of reaching them. Collection mechanisms from customers have not been established either by the suppliers of such items to supermarkets or the supermarkets that sell such items to consumers.
On a personal note, I as a concerned resident of Peradeniya requested a leading, islandwide supermarket chain to instal plastic bins in their major outlets in Kandy and its suburbs as they have done in Colombo. Their reply was ‘Due to the traffic congestion in Kandy and insufficient collecting centres for bulk collection in Kandy they are unable to find collectors that transport recycling items to recycling companies’.
Kandy may not be the capital of Sri Lanka, yet it has a large resident population who are customers of supermarkets. The largest university and the largest government department in the country are located in Peradeniya. Kandy is a heritage city and an important tourist destination.
Therefore, supermarkets in and around Kandy have a social obligation to collect for recycling plastics and polythene that come with items that customers purchase from their store.
Concerned resident of Peradeniya Via email
Lesson for state institutions that are opened and then left idling
State Institutions including government departments and other entities like corporations, state banks etc open branches for the benefit of the public. To satisfy this requirement branch buildings are erected/leased out whether in cities, towns or villages. But are these put to use immediately? Hardly. Why?
Sometimes these branches are opened by ministers or prominent political VIPs with a lot of fanfare. But after that these buildings remain idle for months for the decision makers have only one aim– to have it opened by their political patrons. Is this fair?
In this context it may be apt to remind ourselves of a plaque in the Administration block of the University of Ceylon Peradeniya.It reads something like this: This building was declared “more open than usual” by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on…etc.
By the time the building was ceremonially opened it had been put to use by the first Vice Chancellor, Sir Ivor Jennings long before the Queen found the time to declare it open on her state visit. Who took the decision? It was the Vice Chancellor. He didn’t keep the impressive structure idling till the Queen arrived but arranged to use the building and fit in the ceremonial opening into the Queen’s visit to Ceylon (SriLanka.)The functioning of the university preceded the state visit of the queen.
Why cannot our official decision makers utilize the buildings no sooner they are functional like the Vice Chancellor did and request the Minister when he finds it convenient to open the building ceremonially with the normal fanfare. He/she will also be a busy person with many engagements. Making the building available at the earliest is the paramount consideration.
R.Suntharalingam Urumpirai
What Prof. Perera and others need to know
Prof. Wilfred Perera (letter – Sunday Times, February 14) states that his electricity bill which was Rs. 20,000 per month has now decreased to Rs. 100. I suggest he cuts off the main electricity supply to his house and experience what would happen. The solar panels would instantly stop working and even if they work, there will be no electricity at night.
So the grid cannot be cut off. That means the grid is performing a service, for which Prof. Perera is not paying. That duty of the grid is to ensure all surplus electricity that the Professor has is “banked” on the grid. Then the grid gives it back to him any time any day, day or night, irrespective of whether there is rain or sunshine. And what more? In case Prof. Perera has extra visitors and needs more electricity, the grid gives it to him. Instantly, no questions asked.
It is for that reason, there should be power plants, including Norochcholai which the Cardinal, Prof. Perera and many others do not want. Ok, fine then: all of you who do not want this power plant or that power plant to be built, please fix solar panels at your Bishop’s house, office or clinic and then ask your supplier, CEB or LECO, to cut off your mains supply.
Coming back to Prof. Perera’s Rs 100 bill, if Prof. Perera is not paying for the service provided by the grid, someone else is paying it on his behalf, and who is that? They are the people who do not have a strong roof (low cost housing), any roof (apartments) or those who have no means to buy solar panels.
They are paying their bill and Prof. Perera’s bill too, so that Prof. Perera can enjoy electricity at Rs. 100 per month (and tell the government to produce all electricity with solar and wind).
Dr. Tilak Siyambalapitiya Via email