A new waste processing centre at Somerset Estate combines renewable energy, plastic recycling, and community livelihoods in Sri Lanka's plantation region, funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation.
Sri Lanka has launched its first Material Collection and Processing Centre powered entirely by hydropower, marking a shift toward sustainable waste management in the country's plantation sector. The Somerset Eco MCPC, established at Somerset Estate in Radella under the Strengthening Women and Youth Engagement in Informal Waste Management (SWYFT) Project, draws electricity from a small-scale hydropower plant on the Nanu Oya River. The facility, funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation and implemented by Janathakshan with Neptune Recyclers and Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC as partners, integrates waste recovery with clean energy and community economic development.
The centre's operations reflect a comprehensive approach to circular economy principles. It processes approximately three metric tonnes of plastic bottles monthly while powering electric three-wheelers and bicycles used for waste collection across surrounding communities including Nuwara Eliya, Nanu Oya, Agrapatana, Talawakelle, Ramboda and Hatton. This integration reduces the carbon footprint of both processing and collection activities. The facility supports over 10 informal waste collectors and is operated primarily by women, generating livelihoods while diverting plastic waste from waterways in the eco-sensitive highlands region.
The initiative represents an evolution of earlier SWYFT efforts, which established five women- and youth-led recycling centres across Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Matale and Kurunegala with associated training and low-emission collection systems. According to The Coca-Cola Company's Country Head Mario Perera, the Somerset facility demonstrates how community engagement, renewable energy, and responsible waste management can work together. Dr. Roshan Rajadurai of Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC emphasized the project's role in protecting the sensitive upper watershed while creating environmental and social value.
