Waste water charge program (WCP):

Like most countries, Sri Lanka adopts a traditional command and control (CAC) approach to industrial pollution control. The Environmental Protection License (EPL) is the main instrument through which the pollution is controlled. The standards for discharge of waste including wastewater are stipulated by the CEA. The list of industries has also been prescribed for which an EPL has to be obtained for operation.

In spite of the control of wastewater discharge through the EPL scheme, the quality of many water bodies continue to deteriorate in many regions of Sri Lanka. This is because the standards stipulated are concentration based and no consideration has been given to the pollution load discharged into the environment. The CEA is now planning to introduce a Waste water charge program (WCP) scheme from 2009.

Promotion of Cleaner Production and Waste Minimization Technologies

Cleaner Production (CP) is a process through which industries could reduce the amount of waste generated thereby reduces the cost of end of pipe treatment costs. Adoption of Cleaner Production techniques is a win-win situation as the industry could meet the regulatory requirements of the CEA while increasing profits.

Unfortunately the concept of Cleaner Production hasn't been reached to a large number of industries in Sri Lanka. Therefore the Central Environmental Authority has taken steps to awaken the industrialists include the Cleaner Production Concept in their process.

CP will assist industrialists to reduce waste generation in a cost effective manner. There is the added that the pollution load to the environment will be reduced through the adoption of cleaner production technologies. Five Industries have been already selected by CEA to conduct Cleaner Production Assessments. In the meantime the CEA is making arrangements to implement a Waste water charge program (WCP) scheme which is new market based economic incentive where industrialists will be charged based on the pollution loads. Therefore adopting the CP is beneficial to industrialists in order to reduce the pollution load. In order to implement the (WCP) Scheme the CEA has selected some industrial sectors which have high pollution load.