The minister said that a project had been commenced at the BMICH recently with the participation of leading mobile phone companies such as Dialog, Mobitel and Etisalat and recycling companies to device plans to collect electronic waste in the country.

Minister Premjayantha said so responding to a question raised by UNP Matara District MP Buddhika Pathirana.  

The minister said that it had earlier been expected and estimated that around 12 tonnes of e-waste would be collected within two-week programme conducted recently to collect them. “But there was much more. The Central Environment Authority (CEA) commenced a project to collect computers and chemical waste including mercury and cadmium disposed from school laboratories. The private sector uses much more electronic products and dumping them in open environment would pave way for environmental hazards. Therefore steps have been taken to regulate the disposing of e-waste,” he said.

The University of Moratuwa had been entrusted with the task of updating the CEA in this regard. Officials of the CEA would be continuously directed via the district and divisional secretariat levels to sustain the efforts to save the environment from e-waste, the minister added. (Special Reporter/HC)