JICA Launches NEW Challenge for Sustainable Plastic Management with CEA

In September 2023, JICA launched a new project titled “Project for Strengthening Plastic Management Capacity” with a view to developing a sustainable system for plastic waste management.

With full utilization of JICA’s knowledge and network gained during the past over 20-years cooperation on solid waste management, JICA has entered a new phase aspiring circular economy targeting on plastic. This 3-years project mainly works on the establishment of material flow monitoring mechanisms, the formulation and pilot implementation of action plans for plastic packaging waste and single-use plastic waste, and the capacity development of the Centre for Plastic Management newly established under CEA.

On 6th October 2023, all the relevant organizations gathered at the First Joint Coordinating Committee meeting chaired by Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Secretary, Ministry of Environment., where it was agreed to establish three working groups consisting of over 20 organizations for the project implementation.

Mr. Tetsuya Yamada, Chief Representative of JICA Sri Lanka emphasized that “since plastic management system is complicated, cooperation with various stakeholders including private companies, research institutes, NGOs, development partners, etc. is critical factor for the project success. I believe that the Centre for Plastic Management will be able to accomplish such stakeholder engagement.”

Mr. Hemantha Jayasinghe, Director General, CEA (Project Director of this project) highlighted the JICA assistance given to CEA so far and stated that it is expected to lay a sound base in establishing a Center for Management of Plastic at the CEA through this project. CEA would be able to monitor the stages of plastic management process and achieve their responsibilities assigned in the National Plastic Management Action Plan.

Dr. Naofumi Sato, Team Leader of this project stated that “we successfully agreed on the Work Plan of this project; accordingly, we would start detailed planning in the 1st year. We will focus on the in-depth coordination to establish cooperative relationships with many agencies for the development of a national plastics management database as well as the discussion and prioritization of pilot projects for Re-usable, Recyclable or Recoverable of Plastic Containers and Packaging Waste and Single Use Plastic waste.”