A FAILED ATTEMPT OF IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES: A STUDY OF LOCAL GOVERN-MENT IN THE SOUTHERN PROVINCE OF SRI LANKA
Gunarathne, V.1, Gunawardana, T.S.L.W.2, Indrani, M.W. 3, Sriyani, G.T.W. 4 and Mafasiya Fairoz, F.5.
Faculty of Management and Finance, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka
gunarathnavijitha@gmail.com1
ORCID: 0000-0002-3399-8300
ABSTRACT
Waste management is one of the priorities to ensure appropriate and effective local waste management mechanisms are on the agenda of Local Government Authori-ties (LGA). Nevertheless, this has proved to be quite a challenge for most develop-ing countries due to inefficient and ineffective performance in prevailing waste management practices. Therefore, this study aims to contribute to filling this gap by exploring the intricacies of waste management practices within the LGAs in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka, specifically focusing on their alignment with the concepts of sustainable waste management. A mixed-method approach was used to collect data from 41 LGAs in the southern province of Sri Lanka. First, a questionnaire was distributed among all LGAs to collect data on specific waste management practices. In addition, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, in-formal discussions, and document analysis were conducted to gain insights and identify trends in current waste management practices. The findings demonstrate favourable advancements in initiatives like awareness campaigns that engage citi-zens in the source separation of waste. However, the waste collection procedure encounters considerable obstacles stemming from shortages in staff and vehicles, leading to a substantial volume of uncollected waste. Further, it was revealed that disparities across LGAs in the collection of non-degradable waste are attributable to uneven financial resource allocation, inadequate regulation, disorganized collec-tion schedules, and a lack of technical competency. Despite notable measures like boosting home gardening and organic fertilizer production to address environmen-tal issues, these measures were undermined owing to insufficient enthusiasm and backing from political and administrative leadership. Another significant finding is that political leadership frequently diverts a portion of the budget allocated for waste management to other development projects, raising concerns about the seri-ousness of addressing waste management issues. The findings of this study advo-cate for increased transparency and accountability in the allocation of public funds and provide policymakers with several key measures to improve infrastructure, strengthen regulations, and enhance citizen engagement. Implementing these measures is crucial for advancing a circular economy and achieving sustainability goals.
Keywords: Sustainable waste management, Local Government Authorities, Citzen Involvement, Recycling, Sri Lanka
