Eco Spindles (Private) Limited, Sri Lanka’s largest plastics recycler,
recently concluded its 8th annual Kataragama Waste Management Project by collecting 43,590 PET
(polyethylene terephthalate) waste plastic bottles discarded at the scared pilgrim sites of Ruhunu
Kataragama Maha Dewalaya, Sella Kataragama Temple, Wedihiti Kanda and the surrounding areas.
Kataragama is situated within an environmentally vital ecosystem in the country, which includes the
Menik River, Yala National Park, and Lunugamvehera National Park. It is also home to sacred temples,
well known to Sri Lankan and Indian pilgrims. Over a million people descend on Kataragama during the
festival season, leaving behind a trail of plastic waste. Due to the inappropriate disposal of this plastic,
there has been an increase in clogged waterways and animal habitat concerns over the years.
The waste management project commenced on the 29 th of July and successfully concluded on the 12 th of
August, and engaged 60 volunteers from the ‘Soba Parisara Thurunu Samjaya,’ a local youth club in the
area, 20 volunteers from Eco Spindles and its project partners – the Kataragama Pradesiya Sabawa, and
the Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Dewalaya.
Since starting the Kataragama Waste Management Project in 2014, Eco Spindles has collected 555,990
PET plastic bottles, equivalent to 18,533 kilos to date. The project aims to educate Sri Lankans about
responsible recycling, particularly those who visit Kataragama during the festival. Further, Eco Spindles
operates a network of collectors in Kataragama, who play an integral part in collecting the plastic that is
discarded. The company continues to support these entrepreneurs, who have based their livelihoods
and businesses on collecting plastics by buying the accumulated plastic waste.
“Despite challenges posed due to the pandemic as well as the economic and political crisis in the
country, we cannot forget the importance of safeguarding our environment, which is why initiatives like
the Kataragama Waste Management Project are paramount. As a company that recycles over 360,000
plastic bottles daily, we are proud to contribute to a greener Sri Lanka. We will continue to address the
impact of improper and irresponsible disposal of plastic waste and convert it into value-added products
such as polyester yarn and monofilaments,” commented Dr. Anush Amarasinghe, Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) and Managing Director of BPPL Holdings PLC.
Eco Spindles who owns one of only two plants in the world capable of creating polyester yarn directly
from recycled PET plastic flakes and is a subsidiary of BPPL Holdings PLC, has continued to play its part
as a responsible organisation by engaging and initiating multiple waste management/ clean-up projects,
including the Sri Pada, Munneswaram, and Thalawila Waste Management Projects.
Press Release
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 the 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.’
