The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF), in partnership with Janathakshan GTE Ltd., officially inaugurated a new Material Collection and Processing Centre (MCPC) in Alawwa, marking a major milestone under the Strengthening Women and Youth Engagement in Informal Waste Management in Sri Lanka (SWYFT) Project.
The event, held on October 16, 2025, brought together distinguished guests, including Members of Parliament Mr. Manoj Rajapaksha and Mr. Ashoka Gunasena, and the Governor of Wayamba Province, alongside representatives from government institutions, local authorities, The Coca-Cola Foundation, Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka, Neptune Recyclers and Janathakshan GTE Ltd.
The Alawwa MCPC, established as part of a broader initiative to strengthen local waste management systems, serves as a decentralized recycling hub where waste is collected, sorted, segregated, and processed for responsible recycling. Equipped with modern baler machines and electric bikes, the centre enhances efficiency in waste collection, reduces landfill dependency, and increases the recovery of recyclable materials.
Wishing the best for the occasion, Carlos Pagoaga, President of The Coca-Cola Foundation, said:
“The SWYFT program demonstrates how a local approach to waste management can bring both environmental and social benefits. The Material Collection and Processing Centres are enabling real, long-term environmental change by ensuring recyclable materials are recovered and livelihoods are created where they are needed most.”
Adding to this, Dr. Janaka Hemathilaka, CEO/Executive Director of Janathakshan, emphasized the project’s community impact:
“We are proud to partner with The Coca-Cola Foundation for this impactful initiative, which is strengthening waste management systems while empowering local communities. These community-led centers are not just reducing plastic pollution but also empowering families and building resilience through income generation and sustainable practices.”
The Alawwa center is one of five MCPCs being established across the Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Matale, and Kurunegala districts, covering the Central and North-Western Provinces. The project, launched in February 2025 in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and TCCF, combines infrastructure development, capacity building, and community engagement to reduce plastic pollution and uplift women and youth in the informal waste sector.
In partnership with local authorities, under the SWYFT project, Janathakshan is conducting awareness programs with the target of reaching over 15,000 schoolchildren, 3,000 community members, and 400 stakeholders, fostering greater understanding of responsible waste management. Waste collectors have also been trained and equipped with protective gear, collection tools, and safety awareness to improve working conditions and operational efficiency.
The MCPCs, supported by Neptune Recyclers as the main recycling partner, play a vital role in recovering post-consumer plastics such as PET bottles, which are cleaned, baled, and directed to large-scale recyclers. This integrated model strengthens Sri Lanka’s circular economy while contributing to The Coca-Cola Company’s 2035 Voluntary Environmental Goals, focusing on water security, packaging waste reduction, and emission control.
The opening of the Alawwa MCPC stands as a powerful example of community-driven environmental action, uniting government, private sector, and local communities in building a cleaner, more sustainable Sri Lanka.
