Negombo Recycling Club (NRC) in partnership with Clean Sri Laka (CSL) ceremoniously launched the “Catalyzing Actions to Close the Plastic Loop” project on the 7th of November, with the installation of the inaugural trash barrier at Lake Drive, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. This marks the beginning of an ambitious effort to tackle plastic pollution and improve waste management across Sri Lanka’s urban waterways.

Implemented by the NRC with support from the Plastic Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia (PLEASE) Project, the initiative focuses on uplifting Colombo, South Asia’s only wetland capital city by improving the management of polythene and plastic waste throughout the Colombo District.

The launch event was graced by Mr. Anton Jayakody, Hon. Deputy Minister of Environment, and attended by Hon. Deputy Minister for Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara and Hon. Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Sunil Watagala, and Director General of the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP), Mr Norbu Wangchuk. The event also saw the participation of representatives from the Colombo Municipal Council, the Waste Management Authority, Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation, Western Province Waste Management Authority, Urban Development Authority, Central Environmental Authority along with other key partners.

The trash barrier installed at Lake Drive was designed by the MAS Foundation for Change, while the project will partner with Parley and EcoWave for technology development in the future, symbolizing a strong collaboration among public, private, and community stakeholders.

Through this program, activities centre on two key areas:

1. Intercepting plastic debris from waterways by installing specialized trash barriers at 22 locations across Colombo’s canal systems, capturing and recovering plastic before it reaches the ocean; and
2. Building capacity among local authority staff and waste collection workers by providing National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) level training, enhancing their skills, safety, and technical knowledge.

Following the installation, the Inauguration Ceremony took place at the SACEP Headquarters Auditorium, where the Director General of SACEP Mr Norbu Wangchuk and Hon. Anton Jayakody, Deputy Minister of Environment, addressed the gathering. Both highlighted the project’s significance in demonstrating scalable, community-driven solutions to plastic pollution.

“This initiative marks a key milestone in our efforts to close the plastic loop, preventing waste from entering waterways while empowering those on the front lines of waste management,” said Mr Wangchuk, Director General of SACEP.

“The launch of the ‘Catalyzing Actions to Close the Plastic Loop’ project marks an important step in our national journey toward sustainable waste management,” said Hon. Anton Jayakody, Deputy Minister of Environment. “By combining innovation, community participation, and strong partnerships, we are creating practical solutions that not only reduce plastic pollution but also empower local authorities and communities to safeguard our environment for future generations.

The “Catalyzing Actions to Close the Plastic Loop” project is part of the PLEASE Project, implemented by SACEP, funded by the World Bank, and supported by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The PLEASE Project is a pioneering regional initiative that reduces the flow of plastic pollution into South Asian seas by catalyzing action and promoting innovation through Regional Block Grants (RBGs), Innovation Grants (IGs), and targeted Technical Assistance.

In Sri Lanka, the PLEASE Project provides strategic support to the Clean Sri Lanka (CSL) initiative through partnerships that promote circular economy principles, strengthen evidence-based policy development, and foster innovation for a more sustainable future.