Training for Central Environmental Authority Officers – 22nd August
The Island Climate Initiative (ICI), a Regional Block Grantee from Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the Central Environmental Authority (CEA), conducted a special training session on the 22nd of August at the CEA Head Office Auditorium in Battaramulla. The session was designed for CEA officers and selected officials from local government authorities in the Western Province, focusing on strengthening their role in plastic waste management and the recycling value chain.
More than 75 participants attended the program, which featured technical inputs from ICI experts. The training provided insights into the science of plastics, their environmental impacts, and the recycling process. Sessions emphasized key considerations to focus on when issuing Environmental Protection Licenses (EPLs) for plastic waste collectors, Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), and recyclers, ensuring regulatory standards support a sustainable circular economy.
The outgoing Director General of the CEA Mr. Padmasiri Moonamale also addressed the gathering, underscoring the importance of proactive approaches in managing Sri Lanka’s plastic recycling sector. Participants left with a broader understanding of both policy and practice, including discussing challenges such as contamination, microplastic pollution, and the promise of innovative recycling methods.
Training for Plastic Recycling Value Chain Actors – 26th of August
On the 26th August, ICI held the second phase of training at the CEA Head Office Auditorium, this time targeting frontline actors in Sri Lanka’s plastic recycling value chain. The event brought together over 45 representatives from plastic collection services, MRFs, and recycling enterprises operating in the Western Province.
The sessions, led by ICI’s technical experts, highlighted best practices in waste handling, sorting, and recycling processes. Participants were urged to improve the quality of recycled plastics by adopting advanced cleaning, sorting, and pelletizing techniques while also prioritizing worker safety and environmental safeguards.
Marking his first official engagement, the newly appointed CEA Director General, Mr. Kapila Rajapaksha, addressed the gathering. He emphasized the need for robust mechanisms and collaboration across the recycling chain to reduce environmental impacts and create stronger local industries.
The training underscored how actors at every stage, from collectors to recyclers, play a crucial role in advancing Sri Lanka’s efforts toward plastic-free rivers and seas, with timely guidance and shared responsibility serving as the backbone of progress.
