Sustainable waste management by Sri Lankan entrepreneurs

Waste management is an embryonic issue in Sri Lanka which has become a challenge to not only the government, but also to business owners, academics and urban and rural residents. Over 6,900 tons of waste is generated daily in Sri Lanka whilst the daily waste collection is only around 2,500 tons. Sixty percent of this waste is generated in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka while the remaining forty percent is generated by rural municipal council areas. An adequate waste management does not come about on its own. Around the world, all of the sustainable waste management systems have been formed by the interested stakeholders in waste management. In assessing the situation in Sri Lanka, it is evident that the entrepreneurs play a vital role in sustainable waste management. The objective of writing this paper is to identify the techniques adopted by the Sri Lankan entrepreneurs in maintaining sustainable waste management. Another objective is to list the key issues faced by these entrepreneurs related to sustainable waste management in Sri Lanka. The paper will provide some suggestions and recommendations to improve the waste management practices followed by these entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka. This paper is based on secondary research. Existing reports related to waste management and recommendations prepared by scientists, engineers, academics, planners, charitable organisations, consultants, ministries of the government and key industry experts are studied and analysed. This paper recommends that strengthening the national policy framework would be a key for sustainable waste management in Sri Lanka. This paper recognises that Sri Lankan entrepreneurs, who are actively involved in sustainable waste management, contribute positively to the development of the country.