Korean govt. partners with UNDP to tackle Sri Lanka’s waste management challenges

 High-level reps from government of Sri Lanka, Republic of Korea and UNDP to symbolically mark the commencement of the project

• With support from Climate, Energy and Environment Ministry of Republic of Korea, UNDP Sri Lanka advances low-carbon and inclusive waste management solutions

The Climate, Energy and Environment Ministry, the Republic of Korea, through the Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute (KEITI), will provide US $ 4.7 million for a new initiative entitled ‘Scale-up and Sustain the Low-Carbon Municipal Solid Waste Management and Resource Recovery in Sri Lanka’, which will be implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka together with the Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Ministry. 

The three-year project will promote sustainable, low-carbon and locally appropriate solutions to transform municipal solid waste management in two selected Local Authorities within the Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces.

A symbolic signing ceremony took place yesterday with the participation of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Ministry Secretary S. Aloka Bandara, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Sri Lanka Miyon Lee and UNDP Sri Lanka Resident Representative Azusa Kubota, along with the representatives from the partner organisations.  

Sri Lanka generates more than 10,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily, of which only half is collected and a small fraction is properly treated. The remainder is commonly dumped or burned in open sites, creating significant environmental, health and social risks. Previous interventions faced persistent challenges, including mismatched technologies, financial and institutional constraints and limited community participation. 

In addition, the waste sector is often among the sectors most severely impacted by climate change and natural disasters, as witnessed during the recent Cyclone Ditwah and floods, which severely overwhelmed the existing capacities of local authorities and exposed vulnerable communities engaged in waste management activities.

Highlighting the importance of advancing sustainable waste management, Bandara said, “Strengthening municipal solid waste management is a national priority and this project marks a significant step forward. By working closely with the UNDP and our partners, we are translating policy into action, building systems that are locally grounded, environmentally responsible and capable of delivering long-term benefits to our communities. This initiative is a vital investment in public health, environmental protection and the resilience of future generations.”

This new project seeks to address these barriers by strengthening decentralised waste management systems within the jurisdiction of local authorities, thus avoiding the logistical and social difficulties as well as the higher costs, associated with cross-boundary waste transport. 

UNDP Sri Lanka will lead implementation in close collaboration with the government of Sri Lanka at provincial and local levels, together with the Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Ministry, local authorities, private sector partners and Korean technical agencies.

Addressing Korea’s keen interest in assisting Sri Lanka for sustainable development and climate change initiatives, Lee welcomed the launch of this project and wished its successful implementation. She reaffirmed Korea’s commitment to sharing its advanced technology, experience and resources with Sri Lanka in building an effective solid waste management system that would accommodate sustainable solutions across four provinces in the country.

Emphasising the need for integrated and inclusive solutions to Sri Lanka’s waste challenges, Kubota noted, “This project comes at a critical time for Sri Lanka. With KEITI’s support, we are investing in solutions that are not only environmentally sound, climate-proofed and disaster-resilient but also economically viable and socially inclusive. Our objective is to support communities to manage waste more effectively, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create green jobs, while strengthening the resilience of local systems and institutions.”

Adding to this, UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub Environment Adviser Rhyunmin Park also expressed his commitment to collaborating through this project to lay the foundations for sustainable waste management across the Asia-Pacific region.

Strategic waste management plans will be developed in four provinces, namely, the Northwestern, Central, Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces, while comprehensive demonstration projects will be implemented in the Gampola and Balangoda Urban Councils. In Gampola, an anaerobic digestion plant and pyrolysis technology will be introduced, targeting a reduction of 168,630 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions over 10 years, while vermicomposting and pyrolysis will be applied in Balangoda, with an expected reduction of 100,740 metric tonnes.

Further highlighting the priority of the government of Korea’s support in this area, Republic of Korea Climate, Energy and Environment Ministry International Cooperation Bureau Director General Eunhae Jung stated, “This project with UNDP Sri Lanka demonstrates our commitment to advancing global climate action through practical and scalable solutions. Beyond emission reductions, it is meaningful as it empowers local governments and communities to take the lead in sustainable waste management. By sharing our expertise and innovative technologies, we hope the progress made here will serve as a model for other countries.”

Beyond infrastructure, the initiative will foster behavioural change and innovation. It will promote waste minimisation through ‘refuse, reduce and reuse’ practices, improve segregation at source and pilot smart waste collection systems using digital applications. Knowledge-sharing and capacity development will be central to ensuring that the interventions are replicable and scalable.

The project is structured around four key components: strengthening policy and institutional frameworks, demonstrating best-fit waste management technologies, developing green financing models and public-private partnerships and establishing robust monitoring and evaluation systems. 

Gender-responsive approaches will be integrated throughout, ensuring women’s meaningful participation in decision-making and addressing the disproportionate burdens they face in waste-related labour.

This initiative represents a significant step towards achieving Sri Lanka’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, including its five waste sector Nationally Determined Contributions. By reducing emissions, enhancing resource recovery and fostering inclusive green growth, the project will contribute directly to the country’s progress towards multiple Sustainable Development Goals, including good health and well-being, sustainable cities and communities, climate action and decent work and economic growth.