GreenInsight eMagazine [Issue III]

Organic Waste Management

Organic Waste Management at the University of Kelaniya

As a Green University dedicated to environmental sustainability, the University of Kelaniya has implemented a comprehensive Organic Waste Management System—from segregation to composting and biogas production. This initiative directly supports multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:

SDG 2: Zero Hunger
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 13: Climate Action

Produced and Recycled Organic Waste from 2023 - 2025

Total volume organic waste.pptx

Income Generation through Composting from 2017 - 2025

Composting.xlsx

1. Waste Segregation at Source

Supports: SDG 12 & SDG 11

The journey begins with systematic segregation of organic waste at the source. Faculty canteens, common areas, and administrative blocks are equipped with color-coded bins to separate biodegradable waste from recyclables and general waste. More than 250 bins with standard colour codes (Green for organic wastes, blue for paper, orange for polythene, red for glass) for different waste types are placed in the university premises for waste collection.

✅ Staff and students receive awareness training

✅ Visual signboards and bin labeling support correct disposal

✅ Regular monitoring by the

i. Centre for Sustainability Solutions,

ii. Green Practices Committees from each faculty

iii. Landscape Division

2. Composting

The University of Kelaniya composting project not only contributes to a cleaner and more attractive university environment but also supports sustainable practices by reducing waste, promoting soil health, and making compost accessible to the wider community. It showcases the university's commitment to environmental stewardship and responsible waste management. The University has launched a composting project with the goal of beautifying the campus environment and making it more environmentally friendly. This initiative includes three compost yards;

Turning Garden Waste into Gold at the University of Kelaniya

Composting is nature’s way of recycling—and at the University of Kelaniya, we’ve taken it a step further. By carefully balancing the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C:N) and ensuring the right levels of aeration and moisture, we’ve created an ideal environment for microbial activity to thrive. The result? A cleaner campus, richer soils, and a powerful contribution to environmental well-being.

I. Compost Yard at the Main University Premises

Initiated on: September 14, 2015
Location: Adjacent to the landscaping division, Dalugama campus

Daily Input:

~350 kg of garden waste (leaves, grass, pruning debris)
Compost pile size: 1–1.2 m height × 1 m length × 0.5 m width

Natural Nitrogen Sources Planted Onsite:

Gliricidia maculata
Tithonia diversifolia (Mexican Sunflower)
Crotalaria juncea (Sunn Hemp)

🌱 These nitrogen-fixing plants help maintain the optimal C:N ratio and enrich the compost naturally.

II. Faculty of Medicine Compost Yard

Operational since: December 11, 2013
Infrastructure supported by: Central Environmental Authority
Inputs:

~100 ft³ of solid organic waste daily
Liquid compost slurry from the faculty's biogas unit

Outputs:

500–700 kg of compost per month
Sold in 5 kg reusable bags for Rs. 100
Used in university gardens, vegetable plots, and research trials

🛠️ Manpower: Full-time operation (8 hours/day)
🌾 All compost is sustainably utilized within the university, supporting SDGs 2, 12 & 13.

III. Faculty of Computing and Technology compost yard

Established: Early 2025

In response to increased organic waste generated by expanded student facilities and the canteen at the Faculty of Computing and Technology, a new composting unit was commissioned in 2025.

Key Highlights:

Designed to process both kitchen waste and leaf litter
Built as part of FCT’s internal green action plan
Promotes hands-on sustainability engagement among tech students
Compost to be used for urban vegetable beds and student-led green projects at FCT

3. Biogas Production

In a world facing the dual crisis of rising consumption and shrinking resources, the search for clean, renewable energy is more urgent than ever. With fossil fuel reserves depleting and hydropower becoming less reliable due to climate change, we must now transition to carbon-neutral, flexible, and environmentally compatible energy solutions.

At the University of Kelaniya, we have turned this global challenge into an on-campus opportunity. Through the initiative of the Green Practices Committee, the university proudly operates a biogas production system—converting organic kitchen waste into clean energy and organic fertilizer.

🌱 Why Biogas?

Biogas is a renewable form of energy created through the anaerobic digestion of organic matter, such as food waste. It serves as a low-carbon alternative to fossil fuels and can be used for:

Cooking
Heating

This process also produces liquid compost as a byproduct—enhancing soil health and promoting circular waste practices.

🔗 Contributes to:

SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 13 – Climate Action

I. Biogas Unit – Faculty of Medicine

Commissioned on: May 23, 2011
Capacity: 5,000 liters
Location: Faculty of Medicine Canteen

This biogas unit plays a central role in converting the faculty’s daily kitchen waste into usable energy.

♻️ Inputs:

Kitchen waste: 30 kg per day
Water: 100 liters per day

🔋 Outputs:

Biogas: 2 kg per day (used for food preparation in the faculty canteen)
Liquid compost: 100 liters per day (used in campus gardens and compost yards)

🛠️ Operation Time: 1.2 hours/day
🌿 Environmental Impact: Reduces methane emissions, saves LPG use, and improves waste management efficiency.

II. Proposed New Biogas Unit at the Main University Premises

The Project Reclaim an initiative by students of the University of Kelaniya, aims to implement a biogas system to effectively manage food waste generated by the university canteen. The project is structured in two stages: the first involves a smaller-scale implementation using a 500-liter water tank as a biogas digester, processing 6-7 kilograms of food waste daily to generate biogas for cooking. The second stage plans to scale up the system to handle 20 kilograms of food waste, significantly increasing biogas production and energy availability.

The project emphasizes renewable energy production, sustainable technology, and the promotion of a circular economy by converting food waste into biogas and compost. It also aims to raise climate change awareness within the university community through educational programs. Overall, Project Reclaim seeks to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, and foster a more sustainable and informed community aligned with global sustainability goals.

For more details -

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VMGD3p5eXUXhdXVied2xASt-MdHyQUTu/view?usp=drive_link

https://news.kln.ac.lk/index.php/faculties-others/social-sciences/2032-university-of-kelaniya-pioneers-climate-solutions-with-international-collaboration

III. Waste-to-Food Program at the Main Campus

Daily Collection: Around 120 kg of kitchen waste is gathered from the main campus canteen each day.

Usage: All collected waste is supplied to a piggery, promoting a sustainable waste disposal method by repurposing food waste for livestock feed.

IV. Coconut Shell Recycling

Coconut shells collected from the Faculty of Medicine are sold to PR Coconut Shell Collecting Company for reuse, contributing to a circular economy by repurposing organic waste into valuable products.

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