Colombo, Sri Lanka, 11 April 2025:  The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF) have partnered to help address the growing challenge of plastic waste management in Asia, a region that is home to significant environmental opportunities and challenges. Rapid urbanization, increasing demand for single-use plastics, and gaps in waste management infrastructure have contributed to a rising volume of plastic waste, making effective solutions more urgent than ever.

A significant portion of the world’s plastic waste enters the ocean through waterways in the region, posing serious threats to marine ecosystems, human health, and livelihoods. Sixteen of the top twenty polluting rivers in the world are in Asia, and account for more than two-thirds -of the global annual volume of plastics flowing into the world’s oceans. 

Sri Lanka is one of nine countries in the region participating in this USD 15 million project funded by the TCCF. Through this USD 1.1 million has been allocated to Sri Lanka to establish a framework for comprehensive plastic waste management in the country at the local level. The project will build on existing experience and good practices and demonstrate improved plastic waste management efforts at the Local Authority (LA) and local community levels.  

The ‘Management of Plastics Waste and Circular Interventions on Plastics in South, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific’ project or the ‘TCCF Plastics Circularity Project’ will be focused on seven Local Authorities in the Colombo district that channel waste to the Waste Management Centre at Karadiyana; Moratuwa Municipal Council, Mount Lavinia – Dehiwala Municipal Council, Sri Jayawardanepura Kotte Municipal Council, Maharagama Urban Council, Panadura Urban Council, Kesbewa Urban Council and Boralegamuwa Urban Council.

This project will be governed by a National Advisory Committee which is co-chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka and the Resident Representative, UNDP Sri Lanka Country Office. Speaking on this new initiative, Eng.Nishantha Pushapakumara, Director, National Solid Waste Management Centre, Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government stated, “Through this programme we aim to not only strengthen the capacity of our local institutions, but also to embed the principles of the circular economy into our waste management systems. This is a step towards turning plastic from a problem into a valuable resource through innovation, collaboration and inclusion. The Karadiyana Waste Management Centre, a site that has long served as a hub for waste processing in the Western Province will be the model for modern, efficient, and environmentally responsible plastic waste management.”

An inception workshop was held yesterday to identify key challenges faced by local authorities in managing plastic waste.  The gathered officials discussed possible solutions and best practices that can be implemented within the project, while further exploring how existing policies and infrastructure can support project objectives in line with government initiatives.

Addressing the gathered, UNDP Sri Lanka Deputy Resident Representative Ms. Malin Herwig stated “Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, and addressing it requires collaborative, scalable action. Through this timely regional initiative with The Coca-Cola Foundation and the support of the Government of Sri Lanka, UNDP is proud to strengthen local capacity and promote circular solutions that protect our environment, while creating meaningful opportunities for communities. This project will not only help reduce plastic leakage into ecosystems but also catalyze long-term change in how plastic is managed and valued in Sri Lanka.”

The TCCF Plastics Circularity Project aims to address the critical issue of plastic waste management in nine countries across Asia. This initiative targets countries with varying levels of waste management infrastructure and plastic waste challenges, including India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The project is designed to support the transition to a circular economy by improving plastic waste management, promoting recycling, and reducing plastic leakage into the environment. By focusing on these targeted areas, the project will contribute to better public health, environmental protection, and the development of sustainable waste management practices. 

The project is expected to contribute to collecting at least 55,610 tons of plastics and support 72,100 direct beneficiaries during the implementation period across all nine participating countries.
 

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