An Investigation of effective community driven material recovery facility (MRF) in urban waste management – a case study of MRF in Wattala

Abstract

Sri Lanka as a developing country, continues to use the take-make-dispose paradigm of the conventional linear economy. Scarcity of resources and municipal solid waste management problem that linear economies may pinpoint as the underlying cause. By using a Community-driven Material Recovery Facility (CdMRF) as a tool, the Sustainable Circular Economy, a novel developing idea pertinent to the Sri Lankan context, can be a better alternative in this research study's effort to address such difficulties. Waste can be converted into a resource should be a significant fact in this study. Wattala CdMRF is the selected case study. The mixed method used for this study and methodology used are onsite observations, 11 Key Informant Interviews (KII), 35 questionnaire surveys were conducted for the households, commercial enterprises and material collectors by using random sampling method. The key findings of this study demonstrate converting informal material collector occupation into a formalized profession, saving mechanism through resource banking establishment, formalized National Waste Management Committee and Journey of Transformation (JoT) through innovations. The sustainability of the CdMRF is largely dependent on social indicators, with community as the core element of running to achieve Sustainable Circular Economy while enhancing environmental positive externalities.