- App presents solution to locating 300+ bins to dispose PET plastic island wide.
- Hopes the app will foster responsible recycling practices among general public.
- App available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Sri Lanka’s leader in plastic bottle recycling, Eco Spindles (Pvt.) Ltd, a fully-owned
subsidiary of BPPL Holdings PLC, launched its highly anticipated “Waste 2 Value” app at a special
launch event held at Hilton Colombo Residences.
Coinciding with Global Recycling Day, the launch of “Waste 2 Value” expects to encourage
responsible plastic recycling among the general public, and further consolidate recyclable waste
collection efforts within the country.
The app, now available on the Google Play Store for Android and App Store for iOS, is capable of
locating around 300 plastic waste bins around the island, providing ease of access to anybody looking
to dispose their plastic waste the right way, with assurance that what they dispose will be collected
and recycled, and not wasted.
Commenting on the event, BPPL Holdings Managing Director and CEO Dr. Anush Amarasinghe said:
“Over the past few years, with the help of our partners, we have been installing several collection
bins all over the island. With “Waste 2 Value”, we aim to help people locate these bins more
conveniently, so that they can dispose of their plastic waste properly. We are working towards
raising awareness among the general public on proper plastic waste disposal, and this launch is a very
innovative step in that direction.”
The launch event was graced by dignitaries in government and the waste management sector in Sri
Lanka. At the launch, Eco Spindles reinforced their commitment to recycle every plastic bottle used
to create value added products for the benefit of the Sri Lankan economy. The company also
presented appreciation awards to their top corporate partners who supported in placing bins at
convenient locations.
“Although we have an expansive network of bins placed around the island, a staggering 85% of our
plastic waste is obtained through our collector network, with only 15% accounted for through these
bins. Statistically, Sri Lanka imports around 1,600 metric-tonnes of virgin polyethylene terephthalate
(PET) every month. Out of this, only 20% is recycled. The rest ends up either in the ocean, landfills
or is burnt.
“Our goal is to educate all citizens on the drastic impacts of plastic pollution, and show that if we all
do this together, there is great potential for environmental conservation, and a greener future for
generations to come. Everyone can take advantage of this app and truly be a contributor to this
cause,” he added.
By simply downloading the app onto a smartphone, “Waste 2 Value” will easily locate the nearest
plastic waste bins with contact details. It also encourages users to responsibly dispose of their plastic
waste with insightful tips, reminders and even a news tab to stay up-to-date on Eco-Spindles’
recycling efforts.
Eco Spindles plays a substantial role in influencing the collection of waste PET bottles, recycling and
creating value-added products such as polyester yarn for apparel manufacturers and monofilaments
for brush makers worldwide. During the year 2019/20, Eco Spindles had recycled over 81 million
PET bottles, amounting to around 2.3 million kilograms of PET.
The company mainly sources its PET bottle waste through its 400-strong network of registered
recyclable waste collectors and 19 baling sites, but is now in the process of encouraging the whole
nation to discard their plastic waste in designated bins, which is made further convenient with the
launch of “Waste 2 Value”. Furthermore, Eco Spindles is also actively involved in sustainability-
focused public initiatives such as the Sri Pada and Kataragama Waste Management Project, the
Coastal Plastic Recycling Project and the Expressway Projects, to name a few.
About BPPL Holdings PLC
Founded in 1984, BPPL Holdings PLC through its wholly owned subsidiaries Eco Spindles (Pvt.) Ltd
and Beira Brush (Pvt.) Ltd. exports recycled polyester yarn, monofilaments and professional and
household cleaning tools to international markets in USA, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand
with a considerable market share in each region. The group also produces household cleaning
brushes retailed locally, under the brand ‘Tip Top’.