RFP/TCCF/2607/19 Capacity Strengthening of Waste Collectors

UNDP Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, is implementing a plastic waste management initiative under the regional programme titled ‘Management of Plastic Waste and Circular Interventions in South, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific’, funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF). The project aims to strengthen plastic waste management systems across seven Local Authorities (LAs) in the Colombo District, namely Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte Municipal Council, Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia Municipal Council, Moratuwa Municipal Council,  Kesbewa Urban Council, Boralesgamuwa Urban Council, Homagama Urban Council and Maharagama Urban Council. These Local Authorities channel municipal waste to the Karadiyana Waste Management Centre (KWMC). Through a circular economy-based approach, the initiative seeks to improve plastic and other recyclable material collection, sorting, aggregation, recovery efficiency, occupational health and safety standards and environmental safeguards across the value chain.

Plastic and other recyclable material management involves both formal and informal sector waste collectors, ‘Haritha Balakaya’ groups, recyclable material collection centers, small-scale aggregators and Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs). All of them play a critical operational role in supporting material recovery, value chain integration, and diversion of plastic and other recoverable waste from landfill. However, many of these actors face technical inefficiencies, equipment gaps, environmental compliance challenges, and weak monitoring and reporting systems, which limit their overall effectiveness and sustainability. To address these challenges, the project promotes the adoption of Best Available Techniques (BAT) and Best Environmental Practices (BEP) to enhance operational performance and sustainability.

The objective of this assignment is to strengthen the operational capacity, regulatory compliance, occupational safety and environmental performance of eligible waste collectors operating within the recyclable waste value chain in the targeted Local Authorities. This includes both formal and informal waste collectors, Haritha Balakaya groups, recyclable material collection centers, small-scale aggregators and Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs).