I’m told that Colombo generates 650 tonnes of garbage every day. So that I can get my head around that, I’m told it’s the equivalent of 150 fully grown elephants. If you haven’t thought much about the intricacies of garbage collection before, it’s something for you to think about. Begin by imagining 150 elephants made of garbage.
Now find a place where you can store them. Imagine doing this every day. Imagine that as the population booms, as the city sprawls relentlessly outwards, you have more elephants to deal with. Throw in wildlife choking on plastic, muck in our oceans, people living among this toxic filth and the near exhaustion of our natural resources and it’s enough to make a woman weep.
I discover some of this when I commit to spending a Saturday morning with the group from Clean Up Sri Lanka. I thought I knew what I was letting myself in for. The event was to be at Independence Square – technically one of the cleaner spots in the city – and really, how much garbage could there be? I soon found out – enough to fill several large garbage bags. Over the two hours that we walk around the premises, we find broken glass bottle and computer spares, but the real bulk comes from plastic lunch packets, ice cream wrappers and yoghurt tins. Was it a pleasant experience?
Not particularly. Despite my gloves and equipment, this is the first time I’ve rooted around a garbage dump. When we’re done, I’m both satisfied to be leaving the place cleaner than it was, and also more determined to never litter.
Combined with stations that offered people passing by relevant information, the session made for a great launch for Clean Up Sri Lanka. This organisation wants to create a space in which people cannot only learn about recycling but can also actually volunteer their time. The idea is that small lifestyle changes made by individuals can have a big impact, especially if you’re willing to embrace the 3 R’s:
Reduce: Figure out ways to reduce your consumption and waste. This might be as simple as making smart purchases. For instance, you can opt for things being sold loose or in biodegradable packaging over stuff that comes wrapped in yards of plastic.
Choose refillable containers over disposables and glass bottles over plastic containers whenever possible. Avoid single use items especially those made of plastic. Avoid paper plates and plastic cutlery. Say no to plastic lunch sheets, take your own lunchbox. Avoid bottled water, boiled tap water is as safe to drink and is much more affordable.
(It’s estimated that bottled water creates a staggering 1.5 million tonnes of plastic waste every year. According to the watchdog organisation, Food and Water Watch, that plastic requires up to 47 million gallons of oil per year to produce.)
Reuse: Think before you toss something out – could you find another use for it? Use reusable containers to store food and reuse plastic bags wherever you can. Donate old items that are still usable to the needy. Use your paper carefully – don’t print something unless you really need to, and when you do, try and use both sides of the paper.
Recycle: This requires a little work, but it’s worth it. Here is what you should do: begin by separating out recyclable waste, for example glass bottles and jars, paper and cardboard products, metal tins and plastic containers. Rinse to remove any food residues. You now have multiple options. You can drop these off at the closest recycling centre or give it to the separated garbage truck in your area or the bothal-patharai man depending on the item. Both the Colombo Municipal Council and the Waste Management Authority have implemented drop-offs for you to drop off your recyclables, plastic, metal, glass and paper.
Interested in getting involved? You can find Clean Up Sri Lanka on Facebook. Find drop off points and more information on the 3 R’s at: http://3rlanka.org/.
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