From March 2024 to March 2025, the BLUECAP project has created as a powerful force in advancing environmental sustainability and community resilience across 15 districts in Sri Lanka. Through strategic interventions that combine awareness and education, innovation, and community mobilization, BLUECAP is not only managing waste, but changing mindsets, creating jobs, and safeguarding ecosystems.
Operating across 15 districts, the project has directly reached over 81,000 individuals through a wide range of targeted programs, including, 574 school awareness sessions on plastic waste management that have empowered the next generation of environmental stewards, 380 general community outreach events, 171 women’s society programs, promoting inclusive leadership in sustainability, 46 engagements with fisheries communities, who are among the most affected by marine pollution, 14 multi-stakeholder sessions that built bridges between local authorities, community groups, and the private sector.
One of BLUECAP’s initiatives was the introduction of school and community cleanups, which have led to the recovery of over 1 million plastic bottles. In addition, the creative use of “Nano-Cleanups”, compact teams targeting specific locations, has improved the efficiency of waste collection across urban and rural areas.
Beyond awareness, BLUECAP has actively supported the economic empowerment of new waste collectors, both women and men, by facilitating training and helping them establish viable small-scale businesses in the recycling sector. This dual focus on environmental and economic sustainability sets BLUECAP apart as a holistic model for green development.
The project’s infrastructure innovations include the installation of trash barriers, which is a critical step in preventing solid waste from flowing into Sri Lanka’s most important waterways. In parallel, field officers played an instrumental role in facilitating the documentation and approvals required to establish Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), which serve as key nodes in the country’s emerging circular economy.
With the support of 7,686 volunteers, BLUECAP successfully organized 200 community cleanup campaigns, demonstrating the transformative power of citizen engagement. Its dynamic media outreach further expanded its influence, encouraging thousands more to adopt environmentally responsible practices.
Looking ahead, BLUECAP planned to establish 15 fully functional MRFs, recover 963 metric tons of recyclable plastic waste annually, and create over 5,000 green job opportunities. Negombo Recycling Club (NRC) who is implementing the project with the technical support of Janathakshan, is investing on this project on product innovation and working to reduce plastic pollution in major rivers and the Indian Ocean.
The success of BLUECAP lies in its comprehensive, grassroots-driven approach, bringing together education, action, innovation, and policy. As Sri Lanka continues its journey toward environmental sustainability, BLUECAP stands as a powerful example of what is possible when communities unite for a cleaner, greener future.
