University of Colombo as a Polythene- Free Zone

The Center for Environmental Initiatives (CEI) of the University of Colombo implemented a policy on reducing the use of single-use polythene and plastic products inside the University since September 2017 to be in line with the government regulations on banning the use of single-use plastics and Polythene. The Center for Environmental Initiatives has conducted awareness programmes to discourage the use of single-use polythene and plastic products among the University community since 2017. The Green talk session held by the CEI, with the session on “Stopping Plastic Pollution” has also helped to create awareness on the importance of moving towards a plastic-free University. In the process of managing polythene waste at the university, CEI has worked closely with the canteens of the University.

Before the implementation of no-polythene policy every plate of food served at the canteens was wrapped in polythene lunch sheets. With the implementation of this policy, the use of polythene lunch sheets (Approximately 700 lunch sheets per day per canteen) at the canteens was stopped and the university community was introduced to dining simply on plates and washing those after eating before handing over to the canteen counter. This was a successful initiative in managing polythene waste at the university and the canteen staff was well supportive of this initiatives. We also discouraged the use of polythene shopping bags inside the University and encouraged the use of cloth bags and lunch boxes as a solution to the pollution by single-use plastic/polythene products.