SPM Foundation

A meaningful discussion was held at the Ocean University of Sri Lanka – Batticaloa, where students and lecturers engaged in a dynamic conversation on the findings from the Mapping of Informal Waste Management in Batticaloa project.

The session highlighted the critical role of informal waste collectors in waste recovery systems, and circular economy development. Participants shared valuable insights, recommendations, and forward-thinking ideas for the next phase of this initiative for strengthening inclusive waste management in the district.

Mapping of Informal Waste Management in Batticaloa was conducted to develop a comparative understanding of the district’s existing waste management systems.
Through a collaboration between , .foundation.2024, and .environment.fund, the project carried out street-by-street surveys of small scrap shops, large informal waste workers, and processors across Batticaloa — generating critical insights into how the informal sector contributes to keeping our cities clean.

With support from x through , the initiative mapped supply chains to strengthen End Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks, acknowledge the largely unaccounted labour within informal economies, and identify opportunities to increase the recovery of discarded high-value plastics across the district.