Enablers to facilitate industrial symbiosis for better waste management of industrial zones in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Industrialisation has led to a massive increment in resource consumption and waste generation, which demands improved management strategies for Waste Management (WM), especially in Industrial Zones (IZ). Thus, Industrial Symbiosis (IS) concept was raised as a suggestion for WM in IZs through resource optimisation. IS concept being a sustainable solution focuses on waste elimination by creating a network of firms for the purpose of exchanging waste, by-products, utilities, infrastructure, and knowledge. Sri Lankan IZs still have not yet established a proper method to manage IW, which has led to heaps of waste. Since IS is an effective and timely solution for this issue, this paper was intended to analyse the enablers which will be vital in facilitating the application of the concept of IS for better WM of IZs in Sri Lanka. Despite the abundant research on IS concept, a gap in literature could be identified when it comes to exploring enablers to adapt IS for better WM of IZs in Sri Lanka. A qualitative research approach with two case studies were used in this study. A total of 12 interviews were conducted and collected data was analysed using code-based content analysis. The enablers were extracted through the analysis of case findings using an abductive analysis. The empirical findings revealed 34 enablers under environmental, economic, social, regulatory, organisational, technology, and market categories. Reduction of environmental deletion, reduction of WM cost, public pressure, environmental regulations, social relationships, availability of technology and recognition from buyers were some of the key enablers identified in this study. The knowledge generated through this research can be used by respective industry practitioners in Sri Lanka in adapting IS concept for better WM of IZs in Sri Lanka.