A model community driven garbage disposal in Ampara

Rohantha Athukorale

Effective waste disposal is an essential element to protect both human health and bio diversity in our country. Solid and Liquid waste is becoming an increasing and significant problem in urban areas and near industrial zones that has led to many deceases becoming wide spread in different parts of the country.

The Farmer Suhood who was one of the test market recepients of

Proper waste disposal helps reduce deceases like DengueCEYLON

The Integrated Solid Waste Management programme in Ampara is considered by many to be a one of the most effective programmes in the country. The cycle of activities is managed by local authorities organized in clusters, to benefit from economies of scale. It starts from waste segregation at the household level, collection of segregated garbage in households and local businesses, where the residual wastes are transported to transfer station and finally to landfill, biodegradable waste delivered in composting facility for processing and recyclable waste to the recycling centers. The programme is funded by the European Union and implemented by 12 local authorities in Ampara with technical support from United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

Namali, a housewife living in the suburbs of Akkaraipattu commented that ‘If we can sort the garbage in our house before giving it to the garbage truck, the process will be easier’ which is a reflection of how committed the community is in the effective garbage disposal.

Currently on a total generation of 210 tons of waste in urban Ampara, almost 132 MT moves through the Solid Waste Management programme operated by the local authorities, with UNOPS support. One senior citizen who did not want to be named commented that based on this pilot project, the Solid Waste management programme can be rolled out to the rest of the country so that we can avoid the incubation of deceases that are getting rampant in the recent past.

Premium Brand Compost

Many visitors said they wanted to leave in a cleaner environment, and protect the beautiful areas which are blessing to this country, such as beaches, lagoons, and mountains.

In a landmark event in the history of Waste Management in Sri Lanka, the Akkaraipatu Mucipal council launched a 25kg compost bag branded ‘Premium� targeting the agricultural sector of the Ampara District after extensive research and test marketing as an outcome of the Environmental Remediation Programme that UNOPS has implemented together with the Ministry of Local Government in the Ampara district. The programme is being implemented in 12 local authorities in Ampara District, which established seven landfills, one waste transfer station, five composting facilities and four recycling centers.

The UNOPS program provided vehicle assistance like tractors and trailers, compactor trucks, tippers whilst for the proper utilization of these facilities capability building assistance and training is provided to the local authorities. It is termed a model project by many in the sustainable environment platform of Sri Lanka.