By: Staff Writer
September 01, Colombo (LNW): In response to Sri Lanka’s pressing solid waste management issues, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH has partnered with three of the country’s largest Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies—Coca-Cola Sri Lanka Beverages Ltd. (along with The Coca-Cola Foundation), Nestlé, and Unilever—to launch a groundbreaking plastic waste management project.
This initiative, named “Waste to Value,” aims to address the plastic pollution crisis by enhancing infrastructure for plastic waste collection, segregation, recycling, and upcycling while fostering a shift towards a circular economy.
Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) under its develoPPP programme, the project will be executed in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils, and Local Government.
The initiative began in 2022 with a comprehensive baseline survey to assess the plastic waste management capabilities of Local Authorities in the Western Province.
The survey examined factors such as the amount of waste collected, available space for waste processing, and the potential for effective segregation and recycling. Based on these findings, nine Local Authorities were selected to participate in the project.
The project will be implemented in two phases. The first phase involves establishing material recovery facilities (MRFs) in three Local Authorities with adequate space: Gampaha Pradeshiya Sabha, Homagama Pradeshiya Sabha, and Kesbewa Urban Council.
These facilities will focus on recovering plastic and other recyclable materials. The second phase will expand the project to include five additional Local Authorities that lack space for MRFs. In these areas, the project will encourage residents to segregate waste at the household level, promoting a more grassroots approach to waste management.
Beyond infrastructure development, the project aims to strengthen waste collection systems in the selected areas by introducing incentive schemes for waste collectors and raising public awareness about the importance of responsible waste disposal.
The project also emphasizes training and development for entrepreneurs and other stakeholders involved in plastic waste management, ensuring they are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to contribute effectively to the initiative.
In a joint statement, GIZ, The Coca-Cola Foundation, Coca-Cola Beverages, Nestlé, and Unilever expressed their commitment to creating a sustainable and resilient future for Sri Lanka. “Our goal is to establish a sustainable plastic waste management system by involving all stakeholders in the waste value chain—from creators to collectors and processors.
By promoting recycling and upcycling, we aim to unlock the value of plastic waste and support a circular economy in Sri Lanka.”
Pradeep Yasarathna, Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils, and Local Government, praised the initiative, noting the critical need for effective plastic waste management. “With 60% of the country’s municipal solid waste, including plastic, generated in the Western Province, this project is crucial.
