Janathakshan GTE Ltd, in partnership with The Coca-Cola Foundation, has successfully brought to completion a landmark plastic waste management initiative in Sri Lanka. The project, formally titled "Strengthening Women and Youth Engagement in Informal Waste Management in Sri Lanka," widely known by its acronym SWYFT, marks a significant milestone in the country's ongoing efforts to tackle the growing plastic waste crisis. Running from August 2024 through May 2026, this multi-district program delivered measurable results across some of Sri Lanka's most environmentally significant regions, reinforcing the vital role that community engagement and corporate responsibility play in building sustainable waste management systems.
Overview of the SWYFT Project
The SWYFT project was designed with a clear and focused mission: to strengthen plastic waste management systems by empowering two of society's most underrepresented groups — women and youth — who operate within Sri Lanka's informal waste sector. Funded generously by The Coca-Cola Foundation, the initiative recognized that lasting environmental change cannot be achieved through top-down policy alone. Instead, it required the active participation of the very communities most affected by plastic pollution and most dependent on waste-related livelihoods.
Janathakshan GTE Ltd, a well-established social enterprise with deep roots in sustainable development work across Sri Lanka, served as the implementing organization. Their expertise in community mobilization, environmental education, and grassroots program delivery made them an ideal partner for a project of this scale and ambition. Together with the financial backing of The Coca-Cola Foundation, the collaboration demonstrated how private sector investment and civil society expertise can combine to drive meaningful environmental outcomes.
Districts Covered and Geographic Reach
One of the most notable aspects of the SWYFT project was its broad geographic reach. The initiative was implemented across four key districts: Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Matale, and Kurunegala. These regions were strategically selected due to their ecological importance, population density, and the existing challenges they face in managing plastic waste effectively. The central highlands districts of Nuwara Eliya and Kandy, in particular, are home to critical watersheds and biodiversity hotspots, making improved plastic waste management in these areas especially consequential for Sri Lanka's broader environmental health.
By operating across multiple districts simultaneously, the SWYFT project was able to create a network of interconnected waste management improvements, rather than isolated pockets of progress. This multi-district approach also allowed for the sharing of best practices, resources, and community knowledge between regions, amplifying the overall impact of the initiative.
Empowering Women and Youth in Waste Management
Central to the SWYFT project's philosophy was the belief that women and youth are not merely beneficiaries of environmental programs — they are powerful agents of change. The informal waste sector in Sri Lanka, like in many developing nations, relies heavily on the labor of women and young people, yet these groups often lack formal recognition, fair compensation, and access to training or protective resources.
Through the SWYFT initiative, targeted training programs, capacity-building workshops, and awareness campaigns were delivered to women and youth engaged in informal waste collection and sorting. Participants were equipped with improved knowledge of plastic waste segregation, safe handling practices, and the economic opportunities available through recycling and upcycling. By elevating the skills and visibility of these workers, the project not only improved waste management outcomes but also contributed to greater social equity within the sector.
Youth engagement was also a cornerstone of the program, with young people encouraged to take on leadership roles in community-level waste management activities. This investment in the next generation of environmental stewards ensures that the project's impact will extend well beyond its official conclusion date.
Strengthening Plastic Waste Management Systems
Beyond individual empowerment, the SWYFT project worked systematically to strengthen the broader plastic waste management infrastructure across the four districts. This included improving collection mechanisms, enhancing coordination between informal waste workers and formal municipal systems, and raising public awareness about responsible plastic disposal and recycling practices.
The project's outcomes are expected to contribute to a reduction in plastic waste entering waterways, landfills, and open environments across the targeted districts. Improved systems for plastic collection and processing also create the foundation for longer-term circular economy practices, where plastic materials are recovered and reintroduced into productive use rather than discarded.
A Model for Future Collaboration
The successful conclusion of the SWYFT project stands as a compelling model for how targeted, community-driven environmental initiatives can deliver high-impact results. The collaboration between Janathakshan GTE Ltd and The Coca-Cola Foundation illustrates the potential of public-private partnerships in addressing complex environmental challenges at the grassroots level.
As Sri Lanka continues to grapple with plastic pollution, the lessons learned and systems strengthened through the SWYFT project offer a valuable blueprint for future programs. By placing women, youth, and community ownership at the heart of waste management efforts, this initiative has helped lay the groundwork for a cleaner, more sustainable future across Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Matale, and Kurunegala — and potentially far beyond.