(The Geo class at the Recycling Center – picture by the author)

Recycling (in collaboration with Recycling and Sustainability)

“Reduce, reuse, recycle”. Three words that everyone has heard many times before, yet, not all of these individuals truly take them into consideration. However, in our Geography class we exercised our knowledge on the Resources unit and engage with the global issue of Waste and Recyclability; by taking part in recycling in collaboration with the Recycling and Sustainability service group. 

We started off this process by spending approximately a little over one class cleaning and organizing the materials in the recycling room. This was some very hands-on work which consisted mainly of folding cardboard boxes and grouping materials together (paper, cardboard, unrecyclable, etc. The separating and grouping of these materials were conducted in order to carry out the recycling process and the creation of new products with those materials. 

To the surprise of almost everyone in class, the recycle room was even home to throw away food! This was rather interesting to note, as it made me think further about the differences in recycling various materials and the opportunities for this in Sri Lanka.

After completing this organization part, the school truck was called and packed with the recyclables – and we were off! We headed toward the Pelawatte Recycling Center, an informal yet thorough center to give recyclable materials such as cardboard, metals, plastic, etc, in exchange for a set price. Despite living in Battaramulla, Pelawatte for a considerable amount of time, I had overlooked this Recycling Centre that appeared to be hidden away on Kandawatta Road. 

(Huirong overseeing the cardboard being given away – picture by the author).

All our plastic and cardboard material was taken in by the individuals working there, and after some weighing, we were paid for the material. However, the paper material which we had brought to be recycled was not accepted by the Recycling Center – which was something for us to note for next time.

After talking with the person working there, the prices for material brought to the recycling center were stated as:

In total, we were able to raise Rs.1170 – which was quite a considerable amount. I was surprised at how OSC itself was able to generate this much waste, and how beneficial it would be that we are taking the time to recycle these materials. 

(Josh striking a pose near the Recycling Center – picture by the author)

Sri Lanka itself generates “7000MT of solid waste per day” (Status of Waste), and the implementation of more recycling into the Sri Lankan society will greatly impact the environment and waste management. Furthermore, when taking into account that the Recycling Center pays you to hand over waste – it seems like a pretty good bargain. 

Not just in Sri Lanka, waste generation is a global issue, and the increment in recycling rates would improve everyone’s lives immensely. There are already actions being taken in order to prevent catastrophes, such as bottle-to-bottle recycling in Sri Lanka (Ada Derana) and the rising undertaking of recycling by companies – such as the “Uber-like” company in Jacksonville (This Uber-like company). 

Despite this, we, as global citizens, must strive to make a change as well. A way of going through with this could commence with the exploration of recycling associations in Sri Lanka (such as Plasticcyle) and the giving away of recyclables to local recycling centers. 

(The Recycling Center – picture from Google Maps)

Work cited:

Abeynayaka, Amila. “Bottle-to-Bottle Recycling Can Boost Sri Lanka in the Transition to Circularity in Plastics – Adaderana Biz English: Sri Lanka Business News.” Adaderana Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News, 4 Jan. 2022, http://bizenglish.adaderana.lk/bottle-to-bottle-recycling-can-boost-sri-lanka-in-the-transition-to-circularity-in-plastics/.

Admin, EFL. “Status of Waste Management in Sri Lanka.” Environment Foundation (Guarantee) Limited., 14 June 2017, https://efl.lk/status-waste-management-sri-lanka/.

Gibson, Travis. “This ‘Uber-like’ Company Wants to Pick up Recycling for Jacksonville Residents.” WJXT, WJXT News4JAX, 4 Jan. 2022, https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2022/01/04/this-uber-like-company-wants-to-pick-up-recycling-for-jacksonville-residents/.

Learning objectives:

• LO4 – Working collaboratively with others
  • This experience was definitely groupwork-oriented, and the cleaning and giving away of recyclables could not have been conducted without everyone engaging.
  • Communication was highly prominent during this experience, as understanding more about the process of recycling and the exchange rates for the materials required discussions and organized procedures.

• LO6 – Identifying and demonstrating their understanding of global issues
  • This activity related immensely to the Solid Waste crisis that is ongoing globally and locally in Sri Lanka. Recycling can act as a solution toward this prominent global issue, and by partaking in it we were able to touch upon it.
  • Planning ahead for further recycling activities and gaining a further understanding is another form or understanding this global issue.