Solid Waste Management in Srilanka

Solid waste is a popular hot topic in the most of the countries; Sri Lanka is also having so many
discussions on this topic. Accordingly, waste collection and disposal is a serious problem in most of the
urban areas in Sri Lanka (Karunarathne, 2015). Improvements in collection systems and awareness
programs on waste management has reduce the problem to certain extent over the past years
(Basnayake and Visvanathan, 2014).

1. Legislation on SWM
In Sri Lanka, Solid Waste Management within the municipal areas is a function of Local Authorities. The
basic legal framework required for MSW management is provided under an umbrella of Central
Government, Provincial Council and Local Authority regulations and legislations. According to the
Municipal Council Ordinance No. 29 of 1947, the Urban Council Ordinance of 1939 and the Pradeshiya
Saba Act of 1987, all MSW generated within the boundary of Local Authorities is their property, and they
are mandated to remove and dispose of such waste materials without causing any nuisance to the
public (Karunarathna et.al., 2013).

One of the important laws and regulations with regard to solid waste is the National Environmental Act
No 47 of 1980, which restricts the emission of waste materials into the environment and states the
responsibilities and powers of the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) and further, National
Environmental Act, No. 56 of 1988 and National Environmental Act, No. 53 of 2000 have amended the
sections in main act giving more concern towards the waste. And also, the Gazette No. 1466/5 ordered
regulation for the materials coming under polythene or polythene products.

In addition to those, special regulation, No 1627/19 (2009) made by the Minister of Environment and
Natural Resources under Paragraph (h) of Sub-section (2) of Section 32 (2) (h) of the National
Environmental Act, No. 47 of 1980 especially talk about the Municipal Solid Waste.

Further, Pradeshiya Sabha Act No.15 of 1987, Urban Council No.61 of 1939 and Municipal Council
Ordinance No. 16 of 1947 are also important regulations in SWM. These Acts and Ordinances state that
the local authorities are responsible for proper removal of non-industrial solid waste and for providing
suitable dumpsites.

Municipal solid waste management is the most important service a local authority is providing. This is
the largest single budget item in most of the developing countries (Karunarathne, 2015).

2. Solid Waste Generation

Municipal Solid Waste generation is increasing due to accelerated urban population growth, unplanned
urbanization, increasing economic activities and higher resource consumptions (Menikpura et.al., 2012)
(Karunarathne, 2015).
In 1999, the estimated average solid waste generation in Sri Lanka was 6,500 tonnes/day. With a 1.2 %
population growth rate, total MSW generation in 2009 was approximately 7,250 tonnes/day. In 1999,
the average per capita MSW generation was 0.89 kg/cap/day and has been predicted to reach 1.0
kg/cap/day by 2025 (Menikpura et.al., 2012)
Out of all provinces, western province is the most waste generated province which represents 60% of
total waste generation amount of the country. It is 3000- 3500 Mt per day and it has predicted to
increase to 5274 Mt per day in 2050. Data has revealed that the amount of MSW per capita per day was
0.85 kg in Colombo Municipal Council (MC), 0.75 kg in other MCs, 0.60 kg in Urban Councils (UC) and
0.40 kg in Pradesheeya Sabas (PS), (Ihalagedara and Pinnawala, 2017)

3. Waste Composition
Solid waste can be mainly divide into two categories as organic and inorganic solid waste. The organic
part can be further categorize as putrescible waste, which decompose rapidly with unpleasant odour
and appearance, Fermentable waste, which decomposes rapidly without unpleasant odour and non-
fermentable waste which takes long time to get decomposed (Karunarathne, 2015).
MSW in Srilanka constitute of high organic matter, moderate amounts of plastic and paper and lower
metal and glass waste (Menikpura et.al., 2012). A moisture content of about 60-80 % is there in solid
waste collected.
Solid waste can be classified as residential solid waste, commercial solid waste, institutional solid waste,
biomedical solid waste, construction and demolition solid waste and industrial and agricultural solid
waste (Basnayake, 2014).

The SriLankan MSW mostly consist of short term bio-degradable waste (Food/Kitchen waste, Animal and
plant matter). It’s about 57% of the total. About 6% of long term bio-degradable matter such as coconut
& king coconut shells, rice husks, slaughter house waste, leather are present in the waste. 6% of
polythene an plastic, 6% of paper waste, 6% of metal waste, 6% of textile and saw dust etc… are present
(Hikkaduwa et.al., 2015).
 Figure 1 Composition of MSW collected by LAs in Sri Lanka (Basnayake and Visvanathan, 2014)

4. Prevailing MSW Treatment and Disposal Methods

Eleliyagoda and Premathilake (2016) have assessed the MSW management strategies under several
functioning elements as; prevention and minimization of generation, characterization and identifying
composition of solid waste, on-site storage, handling an separation, collection, transfer and transport,
reuse, recycle and composting, incinerating and energy recovery and treatment and final disposal.

Basnayake and Viswanathan (2014) have listed prevailing MSW treatment and disposal methods used in
SriLanka under several sections.
4.1. Open Dumping of MSW
Presently in most part of the country MSW collected and typically end up in open dumps and open
burning as a primary method, and in some cases are deposited in illegal dumping sites (Hikkaduwa).
85 % of total MSW generate is being dumped in open dump sites around the world. Most of the dump
sites of SriLanka are situate in close proximity to wetlands, marshes, beaches or close to residential houses
and public institutions (Menikpura et.al., 2012 )(Basnayake and Visvanathan, 2014).
Finding disposal sites in urban areas has become difficult due to public opposition. Open dump sites use by
local authorities are not engineered. Therefore there is no control over the pollutants release from the
decomposition of waste. Under tropical climatic conditions, methane emission potential of MSW from an open
dump is 72 kg/t. Estimated level of methane emission from Karadiyana, Gohagoda and Buthgamuwa
dumpsites are 208, 288 and 60 g/m2/day, respectively. Some of the LAs use a daily topsoil cover to avoid the
public opposition and nuisance. These dumps are used to dispose waste such as industrial, healthcare and
slaughterhouse wastes along with MSW (Basnayake and Visvanathan, 2014)
The high moisture content in the MSW leads to excessive leachate generation from these dumpsites, causing
numerous problems to the surrounding environment.

4.2. Composting of MSW

Sri Lankan context approximately MSW is contain 50 - 65% readily bio-degradable waste or organic
component. Therefore converting this higher percentage portion into compost/soil conditioner will
be environmental sound practice as well as economically viable option for an agricultural country
like Sri Lanka. Different technological approaches to produce compost as such passive composting
system, windrow composting system aerated pile system and in the vessel system can be adopted.
Composting of MSW will help to decrease the considerable amount of waste that must be sending
to final landfilling (Hikkaduwa et.al., 2015).

But only about 5 % of the collected MSW is processed in various households and central composting
systems. Composting has been a failure due to poor quality of compost and high operational costs
(Basnayake and Visvanathan, 2014).

4.3. Incineration, Anaerobic Digestion and Landfilling of MSW

Incinerators are operated for treatment of hospital wastes and some industrial wastes, but not for
MSW. Lately, the Waste Management Authority (WMA) of the WP selected an Indian company with
Japanese technology for a Waste to Energy, 500 t/day facility to produce only 10 MW. Few more
plants will be installed in the Western Province. The Colombo Municipal Council with the support of
a private company will be installing a 700 t/day plant to produce 10 MW. Anaerobic digestion of
MSW has a long history in Sri Lanka, going back to 1969. The National Engineering Research and
Development Centre (NERD) has conducted many research studies and feasibility experiments using
MSW, market waste and food waste as feedstock for biogas recovery with little success. There are
no incineration plants in Sri Lanka. However, it is intended to install one pyrolyser plant at Horana
and a (raw wastes) waste to energy system at Kaduwela. (Basnayake and Visvanathan, 2014).

There is much success shown in the newly developed landfill bioreactor technology with locally
developed composite liner system of waste polyethylene sandwiched in between clay soil.

Central Environmental authority has proposed several sanitary landfill facilities to come up to serve
as final disposal points of solid waste from several areas (Dassanayake, 2011). Landfill at Malamulla,
Panadura, Landfill at Keerikkulama, Nuwaragampalatha, Anuradhapura, Landfill at Madirigiriya,
Polonnaruwa, Landfill at Monroviawatta, Hikkaduwa, Gonadikawatta landfill at Gampola, KOICA
funded Landfill at Maligawatta, Dompe, Landfill at Pompeimadu, Vavuniya, Landfill at Oluvil are the
 propose landfills by CEA. Out of these the KOICA funded Landfill at Maligawatta, Dompe has finished
construction and it is operational at the moment.

4.4. Reduce–Reuse–Recycling (3R)

Presently most of the local authorities, there is no proper mechanism to segregate the waste at the
source. In recent days, LAs, private companies and NGOs in the country are attempting to minimize
disposing of waste mainly via waste recycling. Recyclables such as plastics, paper, cardboards,
metals, textile, glass and leather are recovered from MSW at various points of the waste stream by
itinerant waste collectors (from individual houses), street waste pickers (from community bins,
roads, etc.) and rag pickers (from final disposal sites) (Hikkaduwa et.al., 2015),( Basnayake and
Visvanathan, 2014).

5. Problems Associated with SWM

Similar to the situation of most developing countries, local authorities in Sri Lanka have failed to deliver the
required levels of waste management services. The remaining fraction is being illegally dumped on road sides,
forest areas, river banks and low lying marshes, thereby significantly reducing the aesthetic value of the
environment. (Menikpura et.al., 2012).
Most of the Local Authorities in SriLanka directly dump MSW to open dump sites. Inappropriate disposal of
MSW is become a major threat to environment and public health (Eheliyagoda and Prematilake, 2016).
Mostly, these dumpsites are located closer to or in marshy lands, low lying areas, public places, forests
and wild life areas, wetlands, water courses etc… Various harmful environmental problems such as
ground and surface water pollution, air pollution occurs due to uncontrolled umping. Improperly
managed solid waste poses a risk to human health and the environment. Uncontrolled dumping and
improper waste handling causes a variety of problems, including contaminating water, attracting insects
and rodents, and increasing flooding due to blocked of drainage canals or gullies. In addition, it may
result in safety hazards from fires or explosions and also increases greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions,
which contribute to climate change (Karunarathne, 2015), (Ihalagedara and Pinnawala, 2017).
5.1. Site selection for dumping
Lack of suitable lands for safe disposal of MSW has been one of the major problems affecting the
urban areas, resulting in indiscriminate dumping of large quantities of MSW (Karunarathna et.al.,
2013).

5.2. Gas emission

Under tropical climatic conditions, methane emission potential of MSW from an open dump is 72
kg/t. Estimated level of methane emission from Karadiyana, Gohagoda and Buthgamuwa dumpsites
are 208, 288 and 60 g/m2/day, respectively (Menikpura et.al., 2012).

5.3. Water Pollution due to leachate flow

The high moisture content in the MSW leads to excessive leachate generation from these
dumpsites, causing numerous problems to the surrounding environment.
Dharmarathne and Gunatilake (2013) and Mayakaduwa et.al., in 2012 have studied on
characteristics of leachate and surface and groundwater contamination around municipal solid
waste landfill of Gohagoda, which is used to dump solid waste of Kandy municipal area. Parameters
like pH, temperature, solids, electrical conductivity, BOD, COD, nitrates, phosphates, sulphates, and
concentrations of heavy metals (Fe,Mn,Zn,Cu,Pb,Ni,Cr,Co) have measured and have found that the
 concentrations greater than the allowable limits. Absence of proper lining system in open dumpsite
allow highly contaminated leachate to directly flow into the surrounding water sources.

References
Karunarathne, H.M.L.P., 2015. Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) in Sri Lanka. In Proceedings
of the National Symposium on Real Estate Management and Valuation.

Basnayake, B.F.A. and Visvanathan, C., 2014. Solid waste management in Sri Lanka. In Municipal Solid
Waste Management in Asia and the Pacific Islands (pp. 299-316). Springer, Singapore.

Menikpura, S.N.M., Gheewala, S.H. and Bonnet, S., 2012. Sustainability assessment of municipal solid
waste management in Sri Lanka: problems and prospects. Journal of Material Cycles and Waste
Management, 14(3), pp.181-192.

Eheliyagoda, D. and Prematilake, N., 2016. Assessment of a Planned Municipal Solid Waste Management
System in Sri Lanka. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management, 20(1), pp.58-61.

Hikkaduwa, H.N., Gunawardana, K.W., Halwatura, R.U. and Hee, H., 2015. Sustainable approaches to the
municipal solid waste management in Sri Lanka. no. December.

Ihalagedara, M. and Pinnawala, M., PROBLEM OF SOLID WASTE IN SRI LANKA AND EXISTING
MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES.

Dassanayake, M., 2011. Successful integrated urban planning approach to solid waste management in
Sri Lanka.

Karunarathna, A., Lokuliyana, M. and Lee, D.H., 2013, May. Municipal solid waste management in Sri
Lanka: highlights and lesson learned from a capacity assessment. In International Conference on Solid
Waste (ICSWHK2013) (Vol. 5, p. 9).

Gohagoda leachate 2