The first Solid Waste Recycling Centre under the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ Programme has been established in Kattankudy on the eastern coast of Sri Lanka.
In line with the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ initiative, the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government have launched a programme to establish recycling centres within local government institutions.
According to the President’s Office, these centres will provide facilities to convert solid waste into reusable materials and recycling centres are planned to be set up covering all nine provinces.
As the first step, work commenced yesterday (23) on the recycling centre of the Kattankudy Urban Council, at a cost of Rs. 50.8 million.
A total of 54 sites have been identified, with six locations selected in each province where significant amounts of non-degradable waste are generated. Feasibility studies have already been conducted at 25 of these sites.
The project aims to reduce by 30% the volume of waste sent to sanitary landfills over the next three years. This will be achieved by promoting community awareness and participation in implementing the 3R concept (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), reducing overall waste generation and strengthening local government institutions to collect and manage properly segregated waste such as polythene, glass and other materials.
The initiative is coordinated by the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ Secretariat, with the participation of the Ministry of Defence, the tri-forces, the Civil Security Department, the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka, volunteer organisations, environmental groups and local residents. (Newswire)