Sri Lankans have been misusing lunch sheets, the Central Environment Authority said. Speaking to Sunday Observer, its Deputy Director General, Waste Management Division, Upali Indraratne said that lunch sheets are a meal rapping product that pollutes the environment. The first alternative is to completely withdraw from using lunch sheets, he said.
“We should come out from the lunch sheet culture which could be observed only in Sri Lanka,” he said. “There will be a degradable lunch sheet introduced to the market which will cost more than the lunch sheet that is in use at present. However, this is environment-friendly and people could use is as an alternative,” he said.
“We need to refrain from using lunch sheets for every occasion and instead should use LDP polythene.
With the ban coming into effect from September 1, 2017, the working population...could use alternatives such as banana leaves, godapara and nelum leaves which are bio-degradable,” he said.
“Our working population comprises 1.5 to 2 million people. They could use food grade lunch boxes which are compact and easy to carry. These can be used for 5 to 6 years. When there are instances that lunch sheets are really necessary, they could use bio-degradable lunch sheets,” he said.
Referring to the takeaway industry, Indraratne said that instead of rigifoam boxes, aluminium foil boxes could be used. “We can avoid lunch sheets at buffets where there is a practice to cover plates with lunch sheets.”
“We waste food and the is of a significant quantity annually. Food supply outlets need to be mindful of this. Food waste could be seen on the roadways from Friday to Sunday,” he said.