Under the "Clean Sri Lanka" programme, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, a programme has been planned to establish solid waste recycling centers in local government institutions to facilitate converting solid waste into reusable materials.

Accordingly, a solid waste recycling center is planned to be established covering all nine provinces. As the first step, the construction work for the solid waste recycling center of the Kattankudy Urban Council, costing Rs. 50.8 million, commenced yesterday (23rd September).

A total of 54 areas have been selected, with six locations in each area that generate significant quantities of non-degradable waste, and feasibility studies have been completed in 25 of these locations.

The programme aims to reduce the amount of waste sent to sanitary landfills by 30% within next 03 years. This will be achieved through community awareness and participation by implementing the 3R concept (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), thereby minimizing the overall waste generation. Additionally, it aims to empower local government institutions to effectively collect and manage properly segregated waste such as polythene, glass, and other materials.

This initiative expects to contribute significantly to waste reduction and proper management, promoting environmental sustainability through multi-sector cooperation.