Sri Lanka is stepping up its battle against rising levels of plastic pollution, with the government, companies, NGOs and citizens responding in a variety of ways. But more actions are needed covering the entire lifecycle of plastics management from importation, processing and consumption to collection and safe disposal.
This was recognised at a recent high level roundtable discussion convened by the Plastic Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia (PLEASE) Project, and held in Colombo on 15 March 2024.
The event brought together 26 senior representatives from government, development donors, corporate sector, civil society and academia to share information, engage in dialogue and explore potential collaborative solutions.
Titled “Navigating the Waves: Strategies, Challenges, and Collaborative Solutions in Mitigating Plastic Pollution in Sri Lanka”, the roundtable is the first in a series of country level roundtables to be organized under the PLEASE Project.
Similar events will be held in Bhutan, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Nepal and Pakistan in the coming weeks and months, to culminate with a South Asian regional roundtable on plastic waste management before the end of 2024.
Opening the Sri Lanka Roundtable Discussion, Ms. Anjalie Devaraja, Project Director of PLEASE, underscored the gravity of plastic pollution, which exacerbates climate change impacts, threatens ecosystems and jeopardizes livelihoods. She emphasized the project’s regional initiative to mitigate these effects through a Circular Plastic Economy, fostering cross-border collaboration and adopting a gender-inclusive approach.
Ms. Rokeya Khaton, Director General of the South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP), stressed the need to align regional policies with global initiatives, ensuring synchronized efforts to amplify impact and contribute to the global fight against plastic pollution and marine conservation.
Mr. Charles Callanan, Country Director of UNOPS, also shared his experiences in grappling with plastic’s convenience and disposal challenges. Reflecting on health implications, particularly for unborn children and the younger generation, he emphasized the critical role of collaborative efforts to address the impending crisis.
Ms. Chiyo Kanda, the World Bank’s Country Manager for Sri Lanka and Maldives, noted how the South Asian region leads the world in open dumping of waste with an estimated 334 million metric tons per year, of which 40 million metric tons is plastic. She added that the impacts of mismanaged plastic waste on the climate, as well as on livelihoods and ecosystems, are an urgent development challenge.
The roundtable discussion was conducted in three rounds of discussion based on the themes: current interventions for tackling plastic pollution; innovative solutions and best practices, and the way forward and prospects for collaboration.
Representing the state sector were Mr. Mahinda Werahera, Director, Ministry of Environment and Ms Sarojini Jayasekara, Director, Central Environment Authority (CEA). The latter summed up key recommendations of the Sri Lanka National Action Plan on Plastic Waste Management: 2021–2030 that provides a comprehensive assessment and framework for interventions.
Other speakers were drawn from USAID Sri Lanka, UNDP Sri Lanka, MAS Foundation for Change, John Keells Group, Pearl Protectors, Biodiversity Sri Lanka (industry alliance), and the Open University of Sri Lanka.
These speakers and other participants provided insights into ongoing efforts to address plastic pollution in Sri Lanka, highlighting successful projects that focused on behaviour change, community involvement and action research. They also acknowledged that many challenges persist, including consumers’ lack of awareness, producers’ indifference, improper waste disposal practices and the critical need for improved waste management infrastructure.
The roundtable also showcased innovative approaches and best practices that have proven successful in mitigating plastic pollution. Initiatives aimed at waste reduction, upcycling, and marine conservation underscored the potential for collaboration between the public and private sectors in implementing innovative solutions.
As discussions turned to the way forward, calls for continued support from international organizations and regulatory frameworks, such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), resonated strongly.
Participants emphasized the need for public-private partnerships, industry engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration between academia, government, and industry to find innovative solutions and drive evidence-based decision-making.
The insights and recommendations generated from the roundtable discussion are expected to inform future interventions, policies, and funding priorities aimed at mitigating plastic pollution in Sri Lanka.
By harnessing the expertise and resources of diverse stakeholders, Sri Lanka can develop a comprehensive and sustainable approach to addressing plastic pollution, paving the way for a cleaner and healthier environment for future generations.
In conclusion, the high-level closed-door roundtable discussion served as a catalyst for collaborative action and knowledge exchange, highlighting the importance of collective efforts in tackling plastic pollution. rds a plastic-free future in South Asian rivers and seas.
The PLEASE Project is organizing these roundtable discussions at a decisive time. Since 2022, governments have been negotiating a global plastics treaty. The inter-governmental negotiators for the plastics treaty have already met thrice, and will be meeting again in Ottawa, Canada, in late April. If these talks go according to plan, a legally binding international treaty addressing the entire plastic life cycle would be finalised by the end of 2024.
Read the official report on the High-Level Roundtable Discussion on Sri Lanka’s Plastic Waste Challenges and Solutions
