Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Challenges and opportunities for the recycling industry in developing countries: the case of Sri Lanka

  • ORIGINAL ARTICLE
  • Published:
Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The paper identifies why the recycling industry is deficient in Sri Lanka from the viewpoint of the integrated sustainable waste management model (ISWMM). ISWMM identifies from a broad perspective the complex and multi-dimensional challenges and solutions in the recycling industries in developing countries. The focus of this study is on all types of recyclable waste generated by all the actors in a developing economy well beyond the commonly focused municipal solid waste. Data were collected from interviews, document analysis and site visits. The challenges for the recycling industry stem from various upstream and downstream actors in the recycling value chain (broadly stakeholders), waste system stages and enabling environment. Sri Lanka, far from being a circular economy, faces many social, environmental, and economic problems. They need remedial action based on these challenges through awareness creation, capacity building, investment in infrastructure and technology, law enforcement and policy implementation, international collaboration, private–public partnership, fiscal policy support, and industry formalization. Thus, the solutions call for a multi-faceted and all stakeholder-inclusive approach.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Source: Based on Guerrero et al. [4], van Klundert and Anschütz [11]

Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Wasteaid (2016) waste and the sustainable development goals. https://wasteaid.org.uk/waste-sustainable-development-goals/ Accessed 18 May 2018

  2. Pariatamby A, Fauziah SH (2014) Sustainable 3R practice in the Asia and Pacific regions: the challenges and issues. In: Pariatamby A, Tanaka M (eds) municipal solid waste management in Asia and the Pacific islands. Environmental SCIENCE and engineering. Springer, Singapore, pp 15–40

    Google Scholar 

  3. Menikpura SNM, Gheewala SH, Bonnet S (2012) Sustainability assessment of municipal solid waste management in Sri Lanka: problems and prospects. J Mater Cycles Waste 14(3):181–192. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-012-0055-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Guerrero LA, Maas G, Hogland W (2013) Solid waste management challenges for cities in developing countries. Waste Manag 33(1):220–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2012.09.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Vidanaarachchi CK, Yuen STS, Pilapitiya S (2006) Municipal solid waste management in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka: problems, issues and challenges. Waste Manag 26(8):920–930. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2005.09.013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Gunarathne N, Peiris S, Edirisooriya K, Jayasinghe R (2015) Environmental management accounting in Sri Lankan enterprises. Department of Accounting, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka

    Google Scholar 

  7. Gunarathna GPN, Bandara NJGJ, Liyanage S (2010) Analysis of issues and constraints associated with plastic recycling industry in Sri Lanka. In: Proceedings of the 15th International Forestry and Environment Symposium, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka

  8. Karunasena G, Kannangara A (2013) Industrial waste management: free trade zones in Sri Lanka, Thesis, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

  9. Basnayake BFA, Visvanathan C (2013) Solid waste management in Sri Lanka. In: Pariatamby A, Tanaka M (eds) Municipal solid waste management in Asia and the Pacific Islands: Challenges and strategic solutions. Springer, Berlin, pp 299–316

    Google Scholar 

  10. National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) (2017) Geotechnical assessment on the failure at Meethotamulla waste fill, NBRO. Ministry of Disaster Management, Colombo, Sri Lanka

    Google Scholar 

  11. Van Klundert A, Anschütz J (2001) Integrated sustainable waste management-the concept. Tools for decision-makers, experiences from the urban waste expertise programme (1995–2001), WASTE, Gouda, The Netherlands

  12. Wilson DC, Velis CA, Rodic L (2013) Integrated sustainable waste management in developing countries. Waste Resour Manag 166(2):52–68. https://doi.org/10.1680/warm.12.00005

    Google Scholar 

  13. Anschutz J, IJgosse J, Scheinberg A (2004) Putting integrated sustainable waste management into practice: using the ISWM assessment methodology as applied in the UWEP Plus Programme (2001–2003). WASTE, Gouda, the Netherlands

  14. Kojima M, Michida T (2011) Economic integration and recycling in Asia: an interim report, Institute of Developing Economies, Chosakenkyu Hokokusho

  15. Gerdes P, Gunsilius E (2010) The waste experts: enabling conditions for informal sector integration in solid waste management, lessons learned from Brazil, Egypt and India, vol 1. GTZ, Eschborn

  16. Steuer B, Ramusch R, Salhofer SP (2018) Can Beijing’s informal waste recycling sector survive amidst worsening circumstances? Resour Conserv Recy 128:59–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.09.026

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Wilson DC, Araba AO, Chinwah K, Cheeseman CR (2009) Building recycling rates through the informal sector. Waste Manag 29(2):629–635. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2008.06.016

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Wilson DC, Velis C, Cheeseman C (2006) Role of informal sector recycling in waste management in developing countries. Habitat Int 30(4):797–808. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2005.09.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Moghadam MA, Mokhtarani N, Mokhtarani B (2009) Municipal solid waste management in Rasht City. Iran Waste Manag 29(1):485–489. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2008.02.029

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Henry RK, Yongsheng Z, Jun D (2006) Municipal solid waste management challenges in developing countries–Kenyan case study. Waste Manag 26(1):92–100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2005.03.007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Hazra T, Goel S (2009) Solid waste management in Kolkata, India: practices and challenges. Waste Manag 29(1):470–478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2008.01.023

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Paul JG (2012) Case study on the introduction of economic instruments for solid waste management in the Philippines. Special Publication of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Eschborn

  23. Mrayyan B, Hamdi MR (2006) Management approaches to integrated solid waste in industrialized zones in Jordan: A case of Zarqa City. Waste Manag 26(2):195–205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2005.06.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Gunarathne ADN (2015) E-Waste Management in Sri Lanka. Department of Accounting, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Colombo, Sri Lanka

  25. CEA (2015) List of plastic polythene collectors and recyclers. http://www.cea.lk/web/?option=com_content&view=article&layout=edit&id=818. Accessed 26 Sept 2017

  26. Department of Meteorology (2016) Climate of Sri Lanka. http://www.meteo.gov.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=94&Itemid=310&lang=en. Accessed 15 Oct 2017

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka

    A. D. N. Gunarathne, T. P. Y. C. Tennakoon & J. R. Weragoda

Authors
  1. A. D. N. Gunarathne
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. T. P. Y. C. Tennakoon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. R. Weragoda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. D. N. Gunarathne.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Gunarathne, A.D.N., Tennakoon, T.P.Y.C. & Weragoda, J.R. Challenges and opportunities for the recycling industry in developing countries: the case of Sri Lanka. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 21, 181–190 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-018-0782-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-018-0782-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation