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Waste Management Research in Sri Lanka: Exploring Trends, Identifying Gaps, and Gaining Key Insights Through Bibliometric Analysis Cover

Waste Management Research in Sri Lanka: Exploring Trends, Identifying Gaps, and Gaining Key Insights Through Bibliometric Analysis

Open Access
|Mar 2025

Figures & Tables

Figure 1.

Annual production of articles
Source: own processing
Annual production of articles Source: own processing

Figure 2.

Top 10 journals
Source: own processing
Top 10 journals Source: own processing

Figure 3.

Countries' collaboration world map
Source: output of Biblioshiny software
Countries' collaboration world map Source: output of Biblioshiny software

Figure 4.

Most relevant affiliations
Source: output of Biblioshiny software
Most relevant affiliations Source: output of Biblioshiny software

Figure 5.

Tree mapping of the most relevant words used
Source: output of Biblioshiny software
Tree mapping of the most relevant words used Source: output of Biblioshiny software

Figure 6.

Keyword co-occurrence analysis
Source: output of Biblioshiny software
Keyword co-occurrence analysis Source: output of Biblioshiny software

Figure 7.

Thematic map of keywords
Source: output of Biblioshiny software
Thematic map of keywords Source: output of Biblioshiny software

Figure 8.

Keyword cloud
Source: output of Biblioshiny software
Keyword cloud Source: output of Biblioshiny software

Figure 9.

Trend topics
Source: output of Biblioshiny software
Trend topics Source: output of Biblioshiny software

Summary of data

DescriptionResults
Timespan2003:2024
Sources (Journals, Books, etc)559
Documents1247
Annual Growth Rate %19.34
Document Average Age5.35
Average citations per doc28.5
References20009
Keywords Plus (ID)327
Author's Keywords (DE)327
Authors2794
Authors of single-authored docs102
Single-authored docs110
Co-Authors per Doc4.03
International co-authorships %0
article1247

Summary of existing reviews on waste management in Sri Lanka

Source of the reviewInsights
(Kularatne, 2023)The review identifies significant issues with hazardous waste management in Sri Lankan EA laboratories. Despite low effluent volumes, there is high pollution due to contamination. Laboratories produce 80–100 kg/year of chemical-contaminated waste, with inadequate disposal methods—ranging from mixing with non-hazardous waste to dumping and burning, though one lab uses coprocessing.
Current management practices and regulations are insufficient, underscoring the need for improved waste management strategies and cleaner production practices.
(Welivita, Wattage, & Gunawardena, 2015)The study investigates difficulties with solid waste management (SWM) in developing nations, emphasising household solid waste (HSW). It emphasizes the significance of the "4R" activities: reducing, reusing, recycling, and recovering in minimizing waste.
The Waste Management Charge (WMC) is seen as a successful instrument for encouraging these habits. After assessing several charging methods, the report proposes a 'pre-paid bag-based charging system’ as the best fit for Sri Lanka, taking into account social, economic, and political issues. The findings recommend implementing Quantity-Based Charging (QBC) systems in similar developing countries.
(Weerasundara, 2014)This article examines waste management techniques, legislative and institutional frameworks, and technologies employed in Sri Lanka to determine the scope of non-hazardous and hazardous waste issues.
The study, which is based on a literature analysis, has concluded that while Sri Lanka has a well-developed legislative and institutional framework with established laws and norms, novel technologies are required to improve existing waste management practices.
The study also cites considerable opportunities for private-sector involvement in garbage management. It finds that a thorough technical assessment and the development of new technologies are required to adequately manage all forms of garbage in the country.
(Widanapathirana, Perera, & Bellanthudawa, 2023)This study explores e-waste management in Sri Lanka, noting important issues such as ineffective policies, insufficient recycling procedures, and a lack of knowledge. It identifies the necessity for strategic planning in the technological, financial, and institutional domains.
Key ideas include adopting e-waste legislation, establishing central management bodies, assisting informal recyclers, and incorporating ewaste management into education to enhance practices and understanding.
(Nayanarangani, Dissanayaka, & Jaya, 2022)The study has explored that tourism considerably enhances Sri Lanka's economy, accounting for 12.6% of GDP, but also produces a huge amount of solid garbage. Depending on tourist behaviour, seasons, and local legislation, tourist destinations generate between 1 and 12 kg of waste per guest per day.
Key issues include insufficient facilities, bad administration, and financial limits. The report underlines the importance of improving waste management for Sri Lanka's long-term tourism and economic growth.

Top ten globally cited articles

AuthorsYearDOISourceTC
Nilanthi J. G. J. Bandara, J. Patrick A. Hettiaratchi, S. C. Wirasinghe, Pilapiiya, S.200710.1007/S10661-007-9705-3Environmental Monitoring And Assessment188
Kularatne, T., Wilson, C., Månsson, J., Hoang, V., Lee, B.201910.1016/J.TOURM AN.2018.09.009Tourism Management145
Aleluia, J., Ferrão, P.201610.1016/J.WASM AN.2016.05.008Waste Management133
Morgan, O., Sribanditmongkol, P. Perera, W., Sulasmi, Y., Van Alphen, D., Sondorp, E.200610.1371/JOURNA L.PMED.0030195Plos Medicine129
Dissanayake, D., Tilt, C., Xydias-Lobo, M.201610.1016/J.JCLEPR O.2016.04.086Journal Of Cleaner Production126
Kulatunga, U., Amaratunga, D., Haigh, R., Rameezdeen, R.200610.1108/14777830610639440Management Of Environmental Quality119
Vidanaarachchi, C. K., Samuel, T., Yuen, S., Pilapitiya, S.200510.1016/J.WASM AN.2005.09.013Waste Management112
Lalitha, R., Fernando, S.201810.1016/J.WASM AN.2018.11.030Waste Management100
Abeyewickrema, W., Wickremasinghe, A. R., Sommerfeld, J., Kroeger, A.201510.1179/2047773212Y.00000000 60Pathogens and Global Health66
Menikpura, S. N. M., Shabbir, H. Gheewala, S.201810.1007/S10163-012-0055-ZJournal of Material Cycles and Waste Management64

Top ten most relevant authors

AuthorsArticlesArticles Fractionalized
Karunasena G93.75
Amaratunga D72.67
Basnayake Bfa61.78
De Alwis A61.92
Ariyawansha Rtk51.28
Pilapitiya S51.42
Dissanayake P41.50
Haigh R41.17
Jayasinghe-Mudalige Uk41.83
Karunarathna A41.12

The most prolific authors

AuthorsArticlesArticles Fractionalized
Manfred Lenzen459.78
Kuishuang Feng417.91
Richard Wood418.80
Bin Chen369.05
Klaus Hubacek315.77
Thomas Wiedmann307.29
Dabo Guan284.46
Sai Liang243.91
Jing Meng234.39
Daniel Moran224.94
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/mdke-2025-0002 | Journal eISSN: 2392-8042 | Journal ISSN: 2286-2668
Language: English
Page range: 20 - 37
Submitted on: Nov 24, 2024
Accepted on: Feb 3, 2025
Published on: Mar 25, 2025
Published by: Scoala Nationala de Studii Politice si Administrative
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 issues per year

© 2025 Subhasinghe Manchanayake Appuhamilage Vishwanath Sandeepa TENNAKOON, Upasaka Lekamalage Ishan UDAYANTHA, Wattegama Gedara Erandi Jinadari WATTEGAMA, published by Scoala Nationala de Studii Politice si Administrative
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.