This project is launched in response to the environmental threat posed by the lack of a safe sawdust disposal system in Moratuwa river and coastal areas. Supported by the UNDP, the project started in March 2007 with the following objectives:

1. to preserve aquatic biodiversity in the affected area, creating a cleaner and healthier environment

2. to minimize the climatic effects of tree- felling

3. to raise awareness among government agencies and local communities

4. to start the manufacture of value- added products using sawdust

5. to end the disposal of sawdust and other solid waste into the river or sea

Project successes include: an awareness campaign for government officials, residents and students; establishing a sawdust collection and distribution system; and setting up a compost making centre in the area.

a creative and cost effective solution to urban waste problems

NFPO has been involved in solid waste management and composting for a long time and has developed considerable expertise in this field. The most recent project was a highly successful and creative Solid Waste Management Project in the Dehiwala/Mt. Lavinia area. The project ran from March 2004 to August 2005 and was worked in partnership with Dehiwala Mount Lavinia Municipal Council, Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Cooperation (SLLRDC) and the Central Environmental Authority (CEA). Financial assistance was given by Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

The objective was to put in place Proper solid waste management and creating some space within the project for the shanty community to improve economically and open the gateway for social recognition. The Beneficiaries were 3000 Families, Urban Underserved Shanty Community and the middle class families living around in Dehiwela - Mt. Lavinia Municipal Council.

Prior to the project there were no facilities for regular waste collection and much waste was dumped in the local canal. 18 months later the picture had changed significantly:

• The canal had been cleaned up.

• 15 Community Based Organisations (CBO's) were formed to tackle the waste problem.

• A small waste sorting, cleaning and composting centre was built. Here the organic waste is composted, and glass, paper and plastic are cleaned and sorted. Plastic is then shredded. All recyclable material is sold to provide an income.

• Composting barrels were distributed to the larger households; from smaller ones, organic waste is collected & centrally composted.

• A small education room has been set up to teach residents and school children about the importance of proper waste management.

The unique, creative and cost-effective approach used is easily re-applicable. It consists of:

• Strong community participation and ownership from the start.

• Offering a solution for both organic and solid waste

• A strong administration system to support good governance and transparency

• Income generation

NFPO is seeking to integrate this approach into its other projects e.g. in Tsunami housing developments and to provide consultancy to anyone needing a solution for solid waste problems.

Publications/ Resources:
A video on the proper SWM process is available. Please contact us.

Past Solid Waste Management Projects of NFPO:

Project Title	Geographical Area	Partners	Activities
Quality improvement and Standardisation of Compost 2000 - 2002	All island	CEIF	Solid Waste Management Project Recycling of polythene, plastic Project Producing polythene, plastic recycling machines and equipments
Solid Waste Management in Refuge Camps in Vavuniya 2000	Vavuniya (Northern Sri Lanka)	OXFAM	Introduced & implemented a methodology for solid waste management suitable for the area
Urban Solid Waste Management 1996 - 2000	Piliyandala and Matale.	NORAD Institute, CIDA, Asia Foundation, and ITDG	Compost production using urban waste and promote possible employment opportunities to urban poor, experiment the solid waste management technology at micro level
Clean Settlement Project 1997 - 1999	Dehiwala-Mt. Lavinia Municipal Council – greater Colombo	Clean Settlement Programme Unit of Ministry of Housing	Upgrading environmental conditions of under served settlements by providing mobilisation, technical and institutional development support

Please contact us for further information.

Started in 1998 with the support of EcoSolidar, the paper recycling factory has several objectives:

• Provide employment to marginalised people in areas where work is difficult to find

• Promote environmental ideas by recycling waste paper

• Provide consultancy and pass on knowledge in paper recycling and paper making to others

• Be a model for an income generating effort for NGOs

The paper factory undertakes small and medium orders for making paperboards and for value added work e.g. wedding or invitation cards, visiting cards, paper bags.

On average 4 – 6 women are employed, providing much needed income to their families.

NFPO continues to share its technology and recently a new recycling workshop was opened with NFPOs consultancy.

For more information / consultancy / orders please contact:
Sansadaya Environmental Enterprises pvt (Sen En)
No 3/3, Rubber Watha Road, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
General Manager: Mr. Kelly Senanayake

E-mail: infosource@nfpo.org
Tel: +94 11 2809091, 2827200

Background : Environmental issues have been at the core of NFPO’s innovation for several years. NFPO believes that organic farming will provide better income opportunities for farmers and improve the environmental quality of our country as well as the population’s health. Our network partner Isura is heavily engaged in promoting organic farming.

To generate interest and promote the concept of Organic Marketing, NFPO has piloted several initiatives.

Workshop: August 2004: a highly successful workshop “Organic Marketing Programme Development –The Challenge”, organised by NFPO and bringing together all leading experts and interested parties in this field for 2 days in Colombo.

Organic shop: Organic market stall: 2005 trialling a concept of setting up a Saturday market stall in a middle-to-high-income housing development. This became popular very quickly, but regular supply of fresh produce remains a challenge due to the distances involved from farmer’s locations to Colombo.

The successful marketing of organic product remains a challenge, as it needs to address farmers’ needs, customer education, marketing, transportation and storage and systems aspects. NFPO has developed considerable expertise in this and is regularly re-assessing how it can best work in this area and is trialing new concepts; as the organic shop proved not to be sustainable it is now piloting a new concept in setting up a Saturday market stall in a middle-to-high-income housing development. NFPO continues to learn in this area. NFPO continues to learn in this area.

For further information contact
Publications; concept paper on the Challenges of organic marketing (2004, English).