Faces of Change: The Women Leading the Battle to Clean Sri Lanka’s Oceans

Oct 30, 2024 | Urban Links
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Barely concealed beneath Sri Lanka’s breathtaking beaches and vibrant marine life lies a looming crisis that threatens to destroy this pristine paradise. For many coastal communities, the ocean plastic pollution problem is endangering fragile natural ecosystems and jeopardizing their livelihoods and health. Against this backdrop, local women have emerged as a beacon of hope. Through their work with the United States Agency for International Development’s Ocean Plastics Reduction Activity, women in Sri Lanka are making changes to turn the tide on ocean plastics pollution and improve the lives of their families. 

Despite Sri Lanka’s low overall recycling rate (4% for all plastics) a new partnership between USAID, Ceylon Cold Stores (CCS) PLC—known for its beloved Elephant House ice cream and beverages—and Viridis Pvt Ltd, the country’s second-largest recycling exporter that specializes in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) flakes, promises a better future for the country. These companies, together with local organizations, have established one of the first formally recognized women-driven recyclable collection networks. This initiative helped establish Material Recovery Facilities, including one already operational in Dickwella in Sri Lanka’s south. Along with this facility, similar networks in Batticaloa, Trincomalee, and Mannar are collectively processing about 30 tons of plastic each month. While the benefits to the environment are clear, the impact on the community is beginning to show. By compensating women based on the quantity of the plastics they collect, they are able to better support their family.