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Green Wheels Plastic Collection Project

This project combats plastic pollution in Sri Lanka by collecting and recycling plastic waste, creating a cleaner, more sustainable environment.

Project category

Plastic removal project

Project type

Plastic collection

Project stage

Project validation

Country

Sri Lanka

Lifetime

7 years

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ge_green wheels plastic collection project, sri lanka_pedalling away plastic 1

ge_green wheels plastic collection project, sri lanka_pedalling away plastic 2

10,400

tonnes of plastic
being removed and recycled

100

kg of plastic
collected per e-bike per day

10,400

plastic credits
to be generated

Project impact

The Green Wheels Plastic Collection Project, launched by Green Earth in partnership with Eco Spindles, tackles plastic pollution in Sri Lanka using a fleet of locally manufactured e-bikes to collect waste from beaches, riverbanks, and other natural areas. The recycled plastic is transformed into textile fibres and brush filaments, supporting local manufacturing and a circular economy. Beyond restoring the health of local ecosystems, removing this waste reduces communities' exposure to harmful pollutants, from minor irritations to more serious health risks linked to long-term exposure. By turning plastic waste into valuable products, the project delivers environmental and social benefits side by side.

Community benefits

Socially, the project will create numerous job opportunities for locals, particularly in the waste collection and processing sectors. This will provide valuable employment in communities, enhance skills, and improve economic stability. Culturally, cleaner environments foster a greater sense of community pride and enhance the aesthetic value of natural landscapes. This is particularly important in areas like Sri Lanka, where natural beauty is a significant cultural and economic asset, attracting tourists and supporting local traditions. Moreover, by converting collected plastic into new products, the initiative promotes waste reduction and resource efficiency.

Environmental benefits

Environmentally, the project will significantly reduce plastic pollution on beaches and in marine environments, improving ecosystem health and biodiversity. Removing plastic waste from these areas will also prevent wildlife, such as elephants and marine species, from ingesting or becoming entangled in plastic, which can be fatal. This initiative not only safeguards animals but also restores vital habitats, creating a cleaner, healthier environment for all.

Sri Lanka

About the region

The project operates in four locations across Sri Lanka: the coastal areas of Mirissa, Colombo, and Negombo, and the inland city of Anuradhapura, spanning landscapes from sandy beaches and mangroves to urban centres and ancient cultural sites. Sri Lanka's wildlife is remarkably diverse, from elephants, leopards, sea turtles, and dolphins to the coral reefs and migratory whales off Mirissa and Negombo, and the dry-forest species around Anuradhapura adapted to semi-arid conditions.

Plastic pollution threatens this wildlife directly, as animals often ingest or become entangled in waste, sometimes fatally. By focusing on these locations, the project protects critical habitats, preserves biodiversity, and restores ecosystems that both wildlife and local communities depend on.