BMICH spearheads ‘Go-Green’ initiatives with Urban Forest concept and waste recycling

The compost machine which converts waste to compost

Sri Lanka’s iconic landmark, the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), has launched a ‘Go-Green’ initiative with a comprehensive program for recycling waste and planting saplings to create an ‘Urban Forest’ concept.

“This initiative will be a contribution by BMICH towards making Colombo, Sri Lanka and the world a better place to live in for current and future generations,” said BMICH Chief Executive/Director Sunil Dissanayake. 

“As a responsible corporate citizen, all of us at the BMICH are committed to this ‘Go-Green’ initiative,” he stated.

BMICH joined hands with Bank of Ceylon to plant 25 ‘Na’ plants, the national tree of Sri Lanka, in its premises to mark the occasion of the 80th Anniversary of the Bank of Ceylon as a ‘Go-Green’ initiative. These plants will add to the already existing, extensive range of different varieties of trees with the objective of making the BMICH landscape resemble that of an ‘Urban Forest’.   

The BMICH has also initiated a program to collect and convert food waste from its many restaurants and kitchens and other waste from gardens into compost at the in-house compost plant using the Japanese ‘Thakakura’ method. The conversion process takes roughly three weeks from collection to compost. The compost, which is odourless, is then used as fertiliser for the upkeep of the luscious trees and greenery in the gardens and lawns at the BMICH premises. 

Any excess compost is earmarked for sale to the outside market, bringing in additional income. The BMICH also contributes to its green initiatives by segregating and selling plastic, polythene and PET bottles which are collected during the many events held at its premises.