Environmental Impacts Associated with Current Waste Disposal Practices in a Municipality in Sri Lanka – A Case Study

Inappropriate solid waste disposal is a major threat to the environments of developing countries since most of the solid waste generated in developing countries end up directly in open dumps which are uncontrolled and overloaded. Air pollution from landfill emissions, ground water pollution from leachates, health problems due to breeding of disease causing pests and social problems such as decreasing land values and aesthetic appeal of an area etc. are some associated problems. This paper presents a case study conducted in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, a suburb municipality in Sri Lanka. Municipal officials, over 300 householders belonging to different income groups and landfill operators were interviewed to examine current practices and related environmental problems. Ground water samples from the vicinity were analyzed which show levels of certain chemical parameters well above acceptable limits. Landfill gas emissions and possible green house gas contributions were theoretically calculated using Scholl Canyon Model for gas estimations. The overall environmental impacts associated with current practice of waste disposal in Moratuwa are presented in this paper. 1