The Concept of Environmental Leadership: The Case of Solid Waste Management (SWM) in Balangoda Municipal Council in Sri Lanka

Volume 5 - Issue 5

Bandara MACS¹ and Samarasinha GGdeLW²*

Received: September 16, 2020;   Published: October 02, 2020

DOI: 10.32474/OAJESS.2020.05.000225

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Abstract

Most of the identified environmental problems if not addressed properly in timely manner will result in grave implications. Unsystematic garbage dumping is one of the key environmental issues in Sri Lanka, especially in the urban environments. Theories of environmental leadership work successfully as a way of changing the negative social practices and getting societies’ commitment towards sustainability of systematic waste management. This article is discussing how the environmental leadership has contributed to maintaining good waste management practices in the society over direct or open dumping of waste which is unacceptable using insights from the waste management project of Balangoda Municipal Council (BMC). Waste management project of BMC further highlights number of initiatives which had been taken to promote systematic waste disposal, composting and other waste management concepts that should be adopted. Developing an organic culture, establishment of 3R societies, taking measures to gain a social recognition to the employees engaged in solid waste management project, building public-private partnerships, concern about the hazards waste, awareness through societies, branding of produced compost and etc. were among the strategies used to convince the community regarding the importance of acting in a way that will protect the environment. Environmental leadership plays a major role in shaping up communities’ values, attitudes and believes towards sustainable use of resources to ensure their availability for the future generations as well.

Keywords: Environmental leadership; waste management; sustainable development; compost

Abstract| Background| Identifying Proper Waste Management Mechanisms or Strategies| Reduction of Solid Waste Generation at Household Level| Establishing 3R Societies| Imposing a Garbage Tax| Production of Compost| Maintaining social acceptance for the employees at Solid Waste Management Project| Summary| References|