Community Pressure and Environmental Compliance: Case of Rubber Processing in Sri Lanka

Abstract

This study uses data from rubber processing factories in Sri Lanka to identify the impact of informal regulation on environmental compliance. Unlike earlier studies, this study looks at three pollution measures; Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) in a simultaneous analysis taking into account the potential correlation of the residuals if these equations are estimated separately. The results suggest that formal regulation play a minor role in making factories complying with environmental standards. However, there are significant gains to be made through informal regulation in this sector.

Environmental Management Practices on Financial Performance: With special reference to the Rubber Industry in Sri Lanka

“…According to Edirisinghe (2013) total production of 114, 700 metric tonnes of rubber in 2006 produced and discharged 4.5 to 5.7 billion litres of effluent to the environment. There are three main grades of natural rubber produced (Table 1) such as ribbed smoked sheets (RSS), crepe rubber and centrifuge latex, effluent generate by such production processes contains 30-40 per cent of rubber and 60-70 per cent serum substances (Edirisinghe, 2013).…”

“…According to Edirisinghe (2013) total production of 114, 700 metric tonnes of rubber in 2006 produced and discharged 4.5 to 5.7 billion litres of effluent to the environment. There are three main grades of natural rubber produced (Table 1) such as ribbed smoked sheets (RSS), crepe rubber and centrifuge latex, effluent generate by such production processes contains 30-40 per cent of rubber and 60-70 per cent serum substances (Edirisinghe, 2013). Rubber serum substances contain amino acids, carbohydrates and lactic acid with substances required for plant growth and some chemicals such as sodium sulphite, ammonia or formalin, formic acid, acetic acid, oxalic acid, sodium bisulphite, metabisulphite and xylyl mercaptan which are added in the processing of centrifuging.…”

“…Rubber serum substances contain amino acids, carbohydrates and lactic acid with substances required for plant growth and some chemicals such as sodium sulphite, ammonia or formalin, formic acid, acetic acid, oxalic acid, sodium bisulphite, metabisulphite and xylyl mercaptan which are added in the processing of centrifuging. The most adverse effect could be created due to influents is pollution of groundwater and effluents cannot be used for other purposes (Kudaligama et al 2004 as cited in Edirisinghe, 2013). Heavy usage of energy has been depicted in the above sub-sections (see Table 1), is another contrasting factor.…”

“…Manufacturing has a role to play in both climate change mitigation and adaptation. On the other hand, rubber processing is categorised as one of the major polluting industries according to the published records by Central Environmental Authority (CEA) of Sri Lanka (Edirisinghe, 2013). Edirisinghe (2013) further stated that 40-50 litres of effluent are discharged on the average of one kilogram of rubber production.…”

Assessing the Financial and Environmental Sustainability in Raw Rubber Processing; a Case Study with Ribbed Smoked Sheet Manufacture in Sri Lanka

“…RSS manufacture is a labor-, energy-, and material-intensive process; requires substantial amounts of thermal energy, fresh water, and chemicals at different stages of manufacture [5] . Therefore, RSS manufacture would have been confronted with high cost of production, low cost efficiency and various environmental impacts (e.g., water pollution, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions., etc) [1], [6], [7], [8] .…”