Nuwan Jaliyagoda

In today’s increasingly congested world, it is difficult to imagine the absence of waste. Waste generation levels are rising. In 2019 alone, the world’s cities produced 2 billion tons of solid waste. With increasing urbanization and population growth, annual waste generation is expected to grow by 70% in 2050. Although richer nations like the U.S.A and Japan produce more waste than countries like Sri Lanka, the problems of waste management are different in the developing world. Unlike developed nations, we do not have a well-organized means of controlling waste. Garbage is rarely collected regularly, as municipalities are often underfunded. The lack of status and poor salaries associated with the job of garbage collection also creates a system where employees are not trained or able to manage an effective system.

Zero Trash provides a communication platform between its users and garbage collectors which did not exist (at least not successfully) in Sri Lanka. This could have huge implications for both lessening the cost of collecting garbage and aiding in the recycling process, as well as ensuring that materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill are transported to the appropriate recycling centers. This will increase the income for garbage collectors while providing householders with an additional income.