U.S. Funds Projects to Safeguard Sri Lanka from Plastic Pollution

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The U.S. announced its decision to fund projects that protect Sri Lankan cities and marine resources from plastic pollution. The first grants, totalling $345,000, were awarded through the Clean Cities, Blue Ocean programme by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The announcement to this effect was made by the U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alaina B.Teplitz on Friday.

The above said grant will fund pilot projects by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and the Public Interest Law Foundation, aimed at minimizing the flow of plastic into water bodies. It will be utilized towards developing, testing, and implementing waste management enhancement models. Apart from promoting the three R’s- reduce, reuse, recycle, the projects will also focus on building awareness about negative impacts of plastic pollution.

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The works will be carried out mainly in the districts of Colombo, Galle, and Jaffna, in collaboration with local and national government agencies. The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce plans to pilot a public-private partnership approach to boost manufacturers’ responsibility on plastic products. Meantime, the Public Interest Law Foundation will help in creating set of guidelines on disposal of non-hazardous plastic waste.

The Clean Cities, Blue Ocean programme is the flagship programme of the U.S. government to address rising ocean plastic pollution crisis.