Sri Lanka - Waste Management in Tsunami Affected Communities

Highlighting the interconnectedness between waste, community health and individual livelihoods, Niagara College has partnered with the Galle College of Technology (GCOT) in Sri Lanka since 2006 to deliver applied waste management training to Tsunami Affected Communities. The WASTE project (Working Towards Achievable and Sustainable Training for the Enviromnet) arose during the aftermath of the December 2004 Tsunami–which left the country littered with unprecedented levels of waste. Although municipalities in Sri Lanka were already collecting and disposing of waste, the lack of available funds, focus on other priorities and minimal human resource capacity prevented them from adequately addressing the additional waste caused by the tsunami.

Recognizing that in Sri Lanka, it is primarily the female’s responsibility to manage the waste, NC also included gender equality concepts in the training process. NC is proud to have trained and supported GCOT in:

• Curriculum design and delivery for waste collector training and awareness
• Designing and delivering more advanced waste management workshops for industry workers
• Developing a bio-gas unit which will function as a real life learning tool for students and outside trainee
• Actively including women in the training of waste management practices at both the community and household levels

The most practical and rewarding outcome of this project was the delivery of a short term training program to 140 waste collectors in the City of Galle. To reward and encourage these students upon graduation, NC provided each of them with uniforms consisting of helmets, coveralls and safety boots. Now these waste workers have not only increased awareness and skills, but appropriate protective gear, a sense of pride in their occupation, and widespread recognition in their communities.

Read the full report by Sri Lankans on the ground!

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