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Building a Cleaner Future: The 3R Action Plan for Zero Plastic Waste in Moratuwa.

Building a Cleaner Future: The 3R Action Plan for Zero Plastic Waste in Moratuwa.

SEVANATHA Urban Resource Centre (SURC), in partnership with the Moratuwa Municipal Council (MMC) and with generous funding support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under its Clean Cities, Blue Ocean (CCBO) program, proudly announces the successful completion of the 3R Action Plan for Zero Plastic Waste in Moratuwa (3RAP) project. Spanning from July 2022 to June 2024, this transformative initiative has laid the groundwork for a more sustainable, cleaner, and plastic-free Moratuwa by 2035.

Project Vision and Purpose

The project was launched in response to the growing environmental challenge of plastic waste and its devastating impact on the ocean’s environment and urban ecosystems. The overarching goal of 3RAP was to promote the Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle (3R) principles in municipal waste management while developing a robust, community-driven solid waste management system.

By improving institutional capacity, infrastructure, and behavior at every level from municipal authorities to households, the project aimed to establish Moratuwa as Sri Lanka’s first Zero Plastic Waste Municipality by 2035.

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Project Overview

Implemented over a two-year period, the 3RAP project followed an all-inclusive  participatory and evidence-based approach. Thus, it was able to complete the following specific tasks;

  •   .Technical studies including a waste audit, gap analysis, baseline surveys, and policy reviews.
  •   .Formation of a 3R Committee, stakeholder and technical working committees, including local government, NGOs, private sector, and community representatives.
  •   .Development and formal adoption of the long-term 3R Action Plan (2024–2035) by the Moratuwa Municipal Council.

Beyond policy formulation, the project implemented a range of impactful activities, including:

🔧 System Strengthening and Infrastructure Development

  •  . Upgraded the existing Material Recovery Facility (MRF) run by the municipal council with modern equipment, increasing waste recovery rate by over 25%.
  •  . Distributed 10,320 plastic waste collection bins to households, businesses, and public spaces.
  •  . Improved waste collection logistics and source-segregation mechanisms in collaboration with MMC.

👷 Municipal Staff and Informal Sector Empowerment

  •  .  Trained over 640 municipal staff, including health workers and sanitation teams, on 3R practices and waste safety protocols.
  •  . Identified and supported 30 informal waste collectors (IWCs) with tools, equipment, and training, and integrating them into the formal system.
  •  . Supported 5 small-scale 3R businesses with startup equipment, market linkages, and skill development.

📣 Community Awareness and Behavior Change

  •  . Conducted 38+ awareness programs reaching:
    • * 730 schoolchildren
    • * 2. 501 members of religious institutions
    • * 2,500+ households
    • * Vendors and customers at public fairs and markets
  •  . Distributed 36,000 educational materials, including flyers, posters, and stickers.
  •  . Carried out a city-wide awareness campaign, reaching over 144,000 citizens via print, in-person events, and social media.

Achievements and Impact

The project achieved remarkable success, including:

  •  . 69% of indicators met as planned, and 31% indicated exceeded targets.
  •  . Improved municipal institutional capacity for sustainable solid waste management.
  •  . Strengthened stakeholder collaboration among government agencies, private sector, and civil society groups.
  •  . Significant reduction in plastic waste leakage into the environment through source segregation, improved collection, MRF upgrades, and community practices.
  •  . Enhanced community awareness and long-term behavioral change on 3R practices.

These outcomes validate 3RAP as a replicable model for other municipalities facing similar plastic waste challenges.

Acknowledgments

SEVANATHA gratefully acknowledges the outstanding collaboration and support of:

  •  . USAID and Clean Cities, Blue Ocean (CCBO) Program for funding support and technical guidance.
  •  . Moratuwa Municipal Council for its leadership and commitment to institutionalizing 3R policies.
  •  . Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Local Government, Waste Management Authority – Western Province (WMA-WP), Central Environmental Authority (CEA), Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), Divisional Secretariat office Moratuwa for their invaluable inputs and cooperation.
  •  . Community-based organizations (CBOs), religious institutions, schools, businesses, and informal waste workers, whose local knowledge and participation made this project a success, at grassroots level.

Looking Ahead: Moratuwa 2035 – A Plastic-Free Vision

The 3RAP project’s conclusion marks not an end, but a new beginning.

With the official adoption of the 3R Action Plan 2024–2035 by the municipal council, Moratuwa now has a clear, community-backed roadmap to:

  •  . Scale waste segregation and recovery at city scale.
  •  . Expand and digitize waste collection systems.
  •  . Increase investment in Mini MRFs and recycling-based enterprises.
  •  . Promote school-based 3R education and neighborhood-level action.
  •  . Foster public-private partnerships for sustainable waste innovations.

SEVANATHA is committed to supporting the MMC and its partners as they continue this journey towards achieving a model zero-waste city in Sri Lanka.