Environmental impacts with waste disposal practices in a suburban municipality in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Solid waste disposal is a major threat to environments of developing countries since most of the solid waste generated end up directly in open dumps. This paper presents a case study conducted in a municipality in Sri Lanka. Officials, More than 300 householders of different income groups and landfill operators were interviewed to examine current practices and environmental problems. Groundwater samples from the vicinity were analysed which show levels of parameters such as Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and cadmium, above acceptable limits. The main environmental impacts associated with current practice of waste management in the municipality are presented in this paper.