Impacts of Solid Waste on Urban Stream Corridors Case of Meda Ela Tributary in Upper Mahaweli River in Sri Lanka

Abstract

since last three decades. Field measurements,questionnaire survey, observations, laboratory tests and structured discussions with keystakeholders were conducted to identify and analyse the impacts. The study revealed that themain waste management process is being handled by the Kandy Municipal Council. Four(04) main solid waste collection points are identified within the study area. Non point wastesare the most significant waste flows in this stream corridor ecosystem. The main solid wastegeneration sources are identified as; residential, commercial, industrial, institutional,construction and demolition. Food, plastics, paper, fabric, construction wastes and othervarious types of debris are identified as main type of solid wastes in the study area. Improperhandling of solid waste has severely impacted on the equilibrium of the stream corridorecosystem particularly on hydraulic, hydrologic, geomorphologic, biological as well aschemical processes. In this situation, the stream corridor ecosystem and stream dwellers arenegatively affected due to an inappropriate solid waste management practices in the studyarea.