Short Term Competency-Based Training Develops an Enthusiastic Waste Collection Team

Niagara College’s W.A.S.T.E. (Working towards Achievable and Sustainable Training for the Environment) project addressed the issues of waste management in the Galle community of Sri Lanka. By providing local vocational training on environmentally-sound waste management through the development and delivery of short-term, competency-based training (CBT) courses, this project was able to directly benefit tsunami-affected people (TAP).

Read the full report by Sri Lankans on the ground!

Municipal authorities in the developing world find it difficult to cope with the rapidly expanding demands on formal waste management systems. Waste collectors are exposed to many on-the-job hazards such as: chemical burns, disposable needles, broken glass, falling debris from overloaded containers, diseases that accompany solid waste, asbestos exposure, dog-attacks, pests (ants, flies), dust, inclement weather, traffic and foul odors. In Sri Lanka, this has become a growing burden due to a lack of communication between the waste collectors, the community and the municipality.

As the project progressed, it became clear that the waste collectors required proper training.  To read about the successes and lessons learned from this ground-breaking project, read the report submitted by some special people on the ground in Sri Lanka. You’ll be inspired!

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