[Sri Lanka] Pet Ban Gives Glass A Boost

The Sri Lankan Central Environment Authority (CEA) is to ban the sale of carbonated drinks and fruit juices in PET bottles below 1 litre, to control the "plastic menace" in the country. CEA Waste Management Director, JMU Indraratne said that, instead, the beverage industry will be encouraged to sell drinks in glass bottles. However, the industry could use PET bottles of over 1 litre and water will be exempted from the law. He said this would minimise environmental problems caused by plastics. It is also intended to curb haphazard disposal of and burning plastic bottles which cause health hazards, together with economic and social problems. (Also see article in Asian Glass 2/2017 p34)