Reducing Pollution in Export Sectors (EEPEx) in Sri Lanka

19 May 2011

The EEPEx project hosted its second Sustainable Production Forum at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. The Forum was titled Sustainable Production: The Key to Industry Survival. Over 150 participants attended the forum including senior government officials, industry, academia, NGOs and staff from ITI. The forum included over 10 presentations on cutting edge environmental management and pollution control tools and industry case studies. The presenters included international experts from Megaskills Research UK and Fraunhofer IFF Germany, national experts from ITI and case studies from industry including videos. The audience was introduced to the project’s awareness programme, to an analysis of collected baseline data, to an environmental information system and achieved results in the Ceramics & other key sector. Additionally, the experts at the forum discussed current and emerging management tools such as organisational and product carbon footprinting, and eco-lableing. The EEPEX project also introduced a National Waste Materials Exchange Platform and initiated a discussion on business and pollution control.

The Chief Guest was the Honourable Mrs Pavithra Wanniarachchi (Attorney-at-law) Minister of Technology & Research of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. The Guest of Honour was His Excellency Mr Bernard Savage, Ambassador of the European Union’s Delegation to Sri Lanka & Maldives. The Keynote Address was delivered by Dr. Suren Batagoda, Director General of the National Planning Department.

Other attendees included Secretary Minister of Technology & Research Attorney at law Mrs Dhara Wijetillake, EU Programme Officer Mrs Harshini Halangode, Additional Secretary Ministry of Industries & Commerce Mr Asitha Seneviratne, Chairman ITI Prof Vijaya Kumar, Director/CEO ITI Dr AM Mubarak, Project Director EEPEx Mr HS Premachandra, Dr Channa Gunawardena Director Megaskills Research UK, Mr Ralf Opierzinsky Head of Office Thailand Fraunhofer IFF, Mr Gerry Suraweera Project Manager Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

8th December 2010

The EEPEx project includes development of a national Waste Materials Exchange System “WasteX”. WasteX facilitates the exchange of industrial waste amongst waste generating organisations, and between waste generating and waste management organisations in Sri Lanka. WasteX provides detailed information on industrial waste material available to enable viable waste collection, management, re-use and recycling.

WasteX is an open source web based system. It was developed by Megaskills Research UK, a Technology Transfer group specializing in ICT and Management tools for Sustainable Development. The system incorporates best practices from similar exchange sites in EU countries, Asia and USA. Substantial indigenous design input was provided by experts at ITI. WasteX has user-oriented features including:

•    User registration by waste generating companies and waste management companies

•    Placing advertisements for waste material “available” or “wanted”

•    A comprehensive waste material classification and sub-classification system developed by ITI

•    Waste material description in terms of classification, location, quantities, contaminants, frequency etc.

Target Groups of WasteX include:

•    Waste management companies including waste collectors and recyclers

•    Industrial waste generating organisations like enterprises, government entities and eWaste organisations

WasteX was launched at the ITI on 8th December 2010. For further information please visit: www.wastex.lk or contact the EEPEx project office on Tel: 011-2379861; email: euswitch@iti.lk

9 July2009

The EEPEx project hosted its inaugural industry awareness workshop on 9th July at the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute (HARTI). Attending the event were representatives from leading Ceramic companies in the country, ITI, CCC, Megaskills and stakeholders such as the EDB. The workshop created awareness amongst participants on sustainable production, the role of Project EEPEx, the benefits to industries from the project and market competitiveness issues.