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Waste Management Goals
Projected efficiency targets for plastic waste collection and recycling under the new policy.
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Plastic Credits: Financing Sri Lanka's Next Step in Plastic Waste ...
Sri Lanka’s plastic pollution challenge is not only an environmental issue. It is also a financing issue. Across the country, plastic waste continues to leak into drains, rivers, beaches, open dumpsites and informal burning practices. The National Action Plan on Plastic Waste Management 2021–2030 identifies that Sri Lanka generates around 10,768 tonnes of municipal solid waste per day, while only about one-third is collected. It also notes that plastics make up approximately 6.89% of total municipal solid waste, and that more than 50% of post-consumer plastics end up in dumpsites (Ministry of Environment, 2021). These figures highlight a simple reality: Sri Lanka cannot solve plastic pollution only through awareness campaigns or isolated clean-ups. The country needs sustained financing for collection, segregation, recycling, recovery and environmentally sound treatment systems. This is where plastic credits can become useful. What are plastic credits? A plastic credit is a verified unit that represents a specific quantity of plastic waste that has been collected, recycled, recovered or otherwise responsibly managed. In practical terms, one plastic credit usually represents one tonne of plastic waste that has been removed from the environment or diverted from mismanaged disposal. For project developers, recyclers, waste collectors, local authorities and community-based organizations, plastic credits can create a revenue stream for activities that are often underfunded. For companies, especially those using plastic packaging or plastic-intensive products, plastic credits provide a mechanism to finance measurable plastic waste recovery while they work on reducing plastic use at source. However, plastic credits should not be misunderstood as a permission to continue producing plastic. They are most useful when applied after reduction, redesign, reuse and recycled-content strategies have been considered. Why plastic credits are relevant to Sri Lanka Sri Lanka already has recyclers, informal collectors, community initiatives and private-sector waste handlers working to recover plastic waste. The problem is that many collection and treatment activities are not financially attractive, especially when the waste is low-value, contaminated, lightweight or located far from processing facilities. For example, PET bottles may have a reasonable recycling value, but flexible plastics, multilayer packaging, sachets, low-grade films and contaminated plastics often...
Sri Lanka Environment Bill Tightens Pollution Controls
Sri Lanka Environment Bill reforms are set to reshape the country’s environmental regulatory framework with stricter project monitoring, legally binding environmental management requirements, and a new load-based pollution charging system aimed at reducing environmental damage. Sri Lanka Environment Bill introduces stricter monitoring and pollution fines The proposed amendments to the National Environmental Act were outlined by Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi and senior officials from the Central Environmental Authority (CEA), who said the changes are intended to strengthen environmental governance and close long-standing regulatory gaps. One of the most significant changes under the Sri Lanka Environment Bill is the introduction of load-based charging for pollutants. The system will calculate environmental fees based on the actual quantity of contaminants released into water sources and surrounding ecosystems rather than relying on fixed penalties or generalized estimates. Officials say the move is designed to directly address growing concerns over industrial pollution and deteriorating water quality in several regions across the country. By linking charges to measurable pollution levels, authorities expect industries to adopt cleaner production methods and invest more heavily in waste management systems. Kapila Rajapaksha, Director General of the Central Environmental Authority, said the amended legislation would also make it mandatory for industrial projects to obtain environmental recommendations before operations begin. According to Rajapaksha, businesses planning to establish industrial facilities will be legally required to secure environmental clearance relevant to the selected location before project implementation. Authorities believe this will prevent environmentally unsuitable developments from proceeding without proper review. The proposed legislation also formally incorporates Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) into the legal framework. This mechanism will require regional development plans, land-use policies, and major infrastructure proposals to undergo environmental evaluations during the planning stage rather than after projects have already commenced. Environmental experts have long argued that the absence of legally enforceable SEA provisions weakened Sri Lanka’s ability to identify long-term environmental risks tied to rapid urbanization and large-scale infrastructure development. The new framework is expected to ...
NEA amendments to cover Extended Producer Responsibility ... - ft.lk
In Sri Lanka, one can see waterways, roadsides, etc., littered with beer cans and bottles, yoghurt cups, plastic coverings of different kinds, food containers, etc. There is no system where producers bear any responsibility for the harm caused to the environment by their products, with many washing their hands of responsibility after selling them.
Homepage | UNEP Law and Environment Assistance Platform
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