Import of used ACs, fridges to be banned
The importation of second hand air conditioners and refrigerators will be prohibited shortly to prevent ozone depleting substances entering the country, National Ozone Unit (NOU) Director G.M.J.K. Gunawardena said.
He was addressing a media workshop organised by the NOU of the Environment and Renewable Energy Ministry in Kanneliya parallel to 'International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer' which falls on September 16.
Gunawardena said importing second hand air conditioners and refrigerators in bulk has become a severe obstacle to attempts by Sri Lanka to phase out ozone depleting substances in accordance with the Montreal Protocol to which Sri Lanka is a signatory since 1989.
He said harmful gases such as Hydro Chloro Fluoro Carbon (HCFC) in these equipment contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer.
Sri Lanka has targetted to phase out HCFC completely by 2030. He said as developed countries are gradually shifting to environmental friendly modern technologies, these countries sell electrical goods produced using old technologies that contain ozone depleting substances at cheaper rates to developing countries.
Gunawardena said certain local importers collect these items discarded by these countries and bring them to Sri Lanka.
He said these items even though sold at cheaper rates in the market are outdated, not energy efficient and consume more power resulting in the increase in household electricity bills.
Gunawardena pointed out that due to these reasons there is no long term benefit for the consumers from these second hand electrical items, especially air conditioners and refrigerators, adding that the wrong impression people have about these items should be changed.
Gunawardena said import restrictions and limitations for items that carry HCFC have been imposed in Sri Lanka since the beginning of this year.
He said the NOU promotes and encourages the use of electrical items containing ozone friendly gases and chemicals.
Gunawardena said the NOU is working to introduce a new green labeling system shortly for refrigerators and air conditioners with the coordination of Sustainable Energy Authority (SEA) to cater to this purpose.
Attention has also been paid towards introducing a star rating system to indicate the energy efficiency in them as presently done for the CFL bulbs. The NOU Director also pointed out that since the technology to dispose ozone depleting substances are not available in Sri Lanka, the discarded items should be sent to the USA incurring additional costs, adding that the USA not only charges money from the developing countries, but also gains carbon credit from this move.
Category: Local, Sri lanka news
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