Community Empowerment Approaches in Solid Waste Management: A Social Work Perspective in Sri Lanka

Solid waste management has become one of the most pressing environmental and social challenges in Sri Lanka due to rapid urbanization, increased consumption, and limited infrastructure. This paper explores how community empowerment can strengthen sustainable waste management through a social work perspective. Adopting a desk-based qualitative research approach, the study synthesizes secondary data from national policy documents, research studies, and development reports. The analysis integrates Empowerment Theory, Systems Theory, and Environmental Social Work to examine how communities can be mobilized to participate effectively in waste management initiatives. Findings highlight that while national policies acknowledge community participation, implementation remains weak due to limited awareness, institutional fragmentation, and inadequate collaboration among stakeholders. Social work, through its participatory and empowerment-based practice, can play a vital role in building community capacity, promoting environmental awareness, and advocating for inclusive policies. Strengthening the interface between social work and environmental management is essential for achieving sustainable waste management and advancing social and ecological justice in Sri Lanka.