Oct 06, 2010 (LBO) - The official car used by the US envoy in Colombo has been shipped to its German maker for recycling, instead of being buried in the sea under a new green policy, the US embassy in Colombo said. "Formerly, the Embassy disposed of Ambassadors’ cars by sinking them off the coast of Sri Lanka in an area assigned by the Marine Pollution Prevention Authority," the embassy said in a statement.
"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 embassy said it welcomed a decision by the automaker BMW to recycle the car as it was in line with a 'green diplomacy' initiative launched by secretary of state Hilary Clinton last year.