Gunadamin Elephant House, the CSR Arm of Elephant House, in collabaration with Eco Spindles, recently conducted a special plastic pollution clean-up project to clean up Adam’s Peak (Sri Pada) – one of Sri Lanka’s most famous and scenic sites, sacred to all of Sri Lanka’s major religious groups. The initiative, which took place on the 17th of February 2023, is also designed to create ongoing awareness about responsible PET disposal and the benefits of recycling for a more robust ecosystem. The Adam’s Peak clean-up project is an important step towards responsible waste management and environmental conservation.
Along with Gunadamin Elephant House and Eco Spindles, the initiative is also being supported by the Maskeliya Urban Council, Seethagagulagame Grama Niladari Division, the Maskeliya Association of Merchants (Welenda Sangamaya), and local government stakeholders. The scope of the project is during the 6-month pilgrim seasonal period Gunadamin Elephant House will provide the necessary infrastructure and funding to ensure daily clean-up of the environment takes place and also promote the importance amongst the visiting community in the proper manner of disposal of used PET and other plastic than just discarding it into the environment. All disposed of PET and other plastic will then be collected and recycled by Eco Spindles Pvt Ltd.
“We’re delighted to partner with Eco Spindles for this project,” said Mr Sanjeewa Jayasundara Head of Supply Chain Management Ceylon Cold Stores, Senior Vice President John Keells Holdings. “It’s an excellent opportunity to visibly demonstrate our commitment to responsible waste management and recycling. This project aims to create awareness about the need for responsible waste management.
Mr. Prasantha Malimbadage, CEO Recycling of Eco Spindles, expressed his excitement about the partnership saying, “It’s great to see the private sector working towards responsible waste management and creating sustainable solutions. This partnership is an example of what we can achieve when we work together to protect our environment.”
Ms. Ranaweerage Mangalika Sisi Kumari,Grama Niladhari of the Nallathanniya also expressed gratitude saying, “We’re so thankful for this initiative, and these two big companies partnering with our Maskeliya people to clean up this most famous and sacred site. We’re proud to be a part of this effort to create a cleaner and more beautiful environment for our community and for visitors.”
Adam’s Peak attracts a large number of pilgrims, tourists and adventure seekers, particularly during the “Sri Padaya Season”, and many environmentalists have raised the alarm about the pollution caused by visitors, which is detrimental to the area’s natural ecosystems. Unfortunately, the costs of cleaning up the site cannot be borne by the Urban Council of Maskeliya alone, which is why Gunadamin Elephant House and Eco Spindles have stepped up to the challenge. The plastic waste that has been collected will now be segregated and processed by Eco Spindles at their recycling facility. The recycled plastics will then be used in the manufacture of garments, brushes and other suitable products, creating continuous value chains.
This project is one of many initiatives undertaken by Gunadamin Elephant House. The Company has also already invested in Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) across the country, providing the necessary infrastructure to collect PET waste. Gunadamin Elephant House, together with its partners, works with many collectors and recyclers to ensure that PET waste is disposed of responsibly, ultimately helping to reduce environmental impacts. The partnership between Elephant House and Eco Spindles, along with the support of the Maskeliya community and government stakeholders, is a testament to the commitment of the private sector towards creating a sustainable and beautiful natural environment.
