Aberdeen’s Neptune Recyclers Supports Esala Perahera PET Collection Drive, Recovering Over 45,000 Bottles

Over 250 university student volunteers joined a multi-stakeholder environmental initiative focused on responsible PET collection and recovery during one of Sri Lanka’s most significant cultural gatherings. Neptune Recyclers, an Aberdeen Holdings company, supported the Esala Perahera PET Collection Drive, a collaborative environmental initiative that resulted in the collection of more than 45,000 PET bottles along the Perahera route in Kandy. 

Led by the Central Provincial Ministry of Environment, the initiative brought together a diverse group of public and private sector partners, including Sri Dalada Maligawa, Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka, Neptune Recyclers, CFC Health Care, Siyatha TV and Siyatha FM, Kandy City Centre, public coordination bodies and university volunteer partners.

Collection activities were carried out across the Perahera route, helping to recover discarded PET bottles and direct them towards appropriate recycling and recovery channels. The initiative addressed the significant volume of waste generated during a major public gathering while encouraging greater awareness around responsible disposal, material recovery and recycling. The collective effort contributed towards maintaining cleaner public spaces in Kandy while helping ensure that recoverable PET remained within the recycling system rather than becoming environmental waste. 

As a company operating within Sri Lanka’s recycling and resource recovery sector, Neptune Recyclers continues to support collaborative initiatives that encourage responsible waste management and strengthen the circular use of materials. The initiative also reflects Aberdeen Holdings’ broader commitment to responsible business and environmental stewardship, with Group companies contributing to practical sustainability initiatives through partnerships, community engagement and measurable on-ground action.

The success of the PET Collection Drive was made possible through the collective contribution of government institutions, corporate partners, volunteers, media organisations and on-ground teams working towards a shared environmental objective. With the support of over 250 university student volunteers from the University of Peradeniya, SLIIT, AIBT, BCAS, ESOFT Uni, APIIT, SLIATE and ANC, the initiative demonstrated the importance of collective action in building cleaner communities and a more circular future. 

As Neptune Recyclers continues to strengthen its role in Sri Lanka’s recycling and resource recovery landscape, initiatives such as this reinforce the importance of collective action in building cleaner communities and a more circular future. For Aberdeen Holdings, the initiative reflects a broader commitment to supporting practical, measurable sustainability efforts that create value beyond business and contribute positively to the communities in which the Group operates.