U.S. Embassy in Colombo goes green, recycles envoy's car

Following the United States Department of State's new commitment to encourage US embassies around the world to make their facilities and operations more environmentally friendly, the Embassy in Colombo has recently shipped the official car once used by the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka to its manufacturer BMW for recycling, an Embassy statement said.



The Measure has been taken to support the State Department's Green Diplomacy Initiative, launched by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Earth Day April 22, 2009.
According to the Embassy, earlier it disposed of Ambassadors' cars by sinking them off the coast of Sri Lanka in an area assigned by the Marine Pollution Prevention Authority.
However, before sea burial, all oils (engine/brake/gear) were collected and recycled locally at the Embassy premises, the A/C gas recaptured, and the plastic and rubber components discarded, the statement said.
The Embassy say it welcomes the recent BMW decision to recycle vehicles because it further helps reduce the impact on the environment.