Kotte Solid Waste Management Strategy

Figure 2: Hierachy of intergrated solid waste managementThe highest and most prefered rank of this intergrated management hierachy iswaste prevention or waste minimisation at source, which aims at reducing the amount ofthe waste produced. it is the most effective way to reduce the quantity of disposablewaste, the cost associated with its handling and its adverse environmental impacts.Reuse, recycling and energy recovery technologies then come as moderatelysuitable technologies. Landfilling is the last option of the hiearachy that involvescontrolled interment of the residual waste which has no further use on or in the earth’smantle. This is the most common practice in many countries.Strategic InterventionsThe Municipal Council will emphasize the use of an affordable mix of appropriatetechnical and sociological options and thus will cease to depend solely on theconventional collection and disposal method. The proposed mix of options is:• Public education to enhance environmental awareness.• Creation of an environment friendly, eco-sensitive city• Promotion of waste reduction at the source of generation• Separation of waste at source of generation• Return of Recyclable material to the market.• Composting & home-gardening• Research in to anaerobic digestion• Scientific handling of clinical and hazardous waste• Door to door collection of household waste• Set up ‘polluter pays’ system for special waste like demolition waste, hazardouswaste etc.• Sanitary landfill as the last resort.Public education to enhance environmental awareness