Activities

The Waste Management Authority (WMA) of the Western Province in its operational existence since July 2004 has initiated short-term, mid-term and long-term projects, for which Rs. 5Mn received from Provincial Specific Development Grant. Community participatory composting project in Ranpokunugama and Recycling Project in Kelaniya PS are some of the few short-term projects already started by respective local authorities with the technical and financial assistance from the Authority. In addition to that the steps have been taken to revitalize the composting projects in Katana PS and Kalutara UC which are not in operational due to various reasons.

Finding a permanent as well as an immediate solution to the waste problem in the Province is a prime objective of the Authority.  In keeping that objective in mind, the Authority has successfully negotiated with a largest renewable energy generator in the world to come to Sri Lanka and work with the Authority. This is a 25 years BOOT, 100% foreign financed, Power generation project which will generate 40MW from 1,000MT of mixed waste. The principal parameters of this project are 5% shares to the Authority, sale of electricity to CEB through the Authority and zero tipping fees. A site at Kerawalapitiya, North of Colombo, has been identified for this project and Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation agreed to release it to WMA with a nominal lease. Land in the south of Colombo which is called “Karadiyana Reserve” will be acquired and actions have been initiated in this respect to set up another long-term project.

Mahara Harbour Quarry has been identified by the Central Environmental Authority as a landfill to dump waste till permanent solution is in place. This 19 acre quarried land is sufficient for 2-3 years with 540MT of waste being dump per day. Central Environmental Authority will provide funds for the Environmental Impact Assessment and a developer will have to be identified for this project. The target date of completion will be later part of 2006.

Authority has received short term technical assistance from USAID/USAEP for the enhancement of legal structure in waste management in the Province and this project will be completed by end of September 2005. Authority has formed clusters of Local Authorities in the Province and this concept will facilitate participatory projects in the Province.

In 2006, Authority has requested for SLR 9Mn from the Chief Ministry of the Provincial Council to establish at least two compost plants for each cluster to compost 5MT of organic waste per day, one recycling project to recycle 1MT/day of recyclables, register all the recyclers in the Province with the Authority, introduce e-governance principal to the waste management sector in the Local Authorities,  identify the suitable mechanism to prevent batteries and tube lights going in to the waste dumps and carry out the awareness campaign on the benefits of sorting of waste and dangers of haphazard dumping of waste at household levels/schools and public places.

News Bulletin in Waste Management – “Aayasa”

This is a bi-annual magazine published by the Authority. This will cover the waste management activities in local authorities, letters on waste management written by experts in the field and Activities of the Authority etc.