Material Recovery Facilities for Recyclable Solid Waste

Waste materials for recycling

By Mihaly Koles on Unsplash

Material Recovery Facilities for Recyclable Solid Waste
SectorMost major industry classification systems use sources of revenue as their basis for classifying companies into specific sectors, subsectors and industries. In order to group like companies based on their sustainability-related risks and opportunities, SASB created the Sustainable Industry Classification System® (SICS®) and the classification of sectors, subsectors and industries in the SDG Investor Platform is based on SICS.
Infrastructure
Waste Management
Business Model Description

Invest in building and operating Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) and collection infrastructure for Recyclable Solid Waste by partnering with existing players. The collection network for an MRF involves a drop-off bag network, drop-off bin network, local authorities and industries, existing collectors, door-to-door collection lorries, special waste management promotion events and a buy-back centre. Examples of companies active in the IOA space:

Eco Spindles Pvt Ltd is a leading plastic recycler and manufacturer of recycled yarn and monofilament. In June 2022, Eco Spindles and Coca-Cola launched an MRF Facility in Wadduwa. Its parent company BPPL Holdings, in May 2022, secured long-term funding of US$ 15 million from the United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC).

Ceylon Cold Stores PLC and Cleantech recently partnered to operate another Material Recovery Facility (MRF). Located in Western Province, this MRF has the machinery investments to transform the collected plastic into value-added plastic waste to be supplied to the recycling companies.

Expected Impact

Improvement in waste recycling at municipal level to reduce environmental degradation and improve livelihood for waste workers, and contribute to the overall health of local communities.

Indicative ReturnDescribes the rate of growth an investment is expected to generate within the IOA. The indicative return is identified for the IOA by establishing its Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Return of Investment (ROI) or Gross Profit Margin (GPM).
15% - 20% (in IRR)
Investment TimeframeDescribes the time period in which the IOA will pay-back the invested resources. The estimate is based on asset expected lifetime as the IOA will start generating accumulated positive cash-flows.
Short Term (0–5 years)
Market SizeDescribes the value of potential addressable market of the IOA. The market size is identified for the IOA by establishing the value in USD, identifying the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) or providing a numeric unit critical to the IOA.
< USD 50 million
Average Ticket Size (USD)Describes the USD amount for a typical investment required in the IOA.
< USD 500,000
Direct ImpactDescribes the primary SDG(s) the IOA addresses.
Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11) Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12)
Indirect ImpactDescribes the secondary SDG(s) the IOA addresses.
Climate Action (SDG 13) Life Below Water (SDG 14) Life on Land (SDG 15)
Sector Sources
  • 1) Ministry of Environment, Sri Lanka.2021. National Action Plan on Plastic Waste Management 2021-2030. https://www.env.gov.lk/web/images/pdf/policies/National_Action_Plan_on_Waste_Management.pdf 2) Ministry of Environment, Sri Lanka.2022. National Environmental Action Plan 2022-2030: Pathway to Sustainable Development. http://env.gov.lk/web/images/pdf/policies/National_Policy_on_Waste_Management_English.pdf 3) Ministry of Environment, Sri Lanka.2020. National Policy on Waste Management. http://env.gov.lk/web/images/pdf/policies/National_Policy_on_Waste_Management_English.pdf 4) Ministry of Environment, Sri Lanka.2021. Updated Nationally Determined Contributions. https://www.env.gov.lk/web/images/pdf/policies/NDCs_of_Sri_Lanka-2021.pdf 5) Department of Census and Statistics.2021.Labour Force Survey-Annual Report 2020.http://www.statistics.gov.lk/LabourForce/StaticalInformation/AnnualReports/2020 6) Department of National Planning. 2021.Public Investment Programme 2021-24. https://www.npd.gov.lk/images/publications/PIP_2021_2024.pdf
IOA Sources
  • 7) Board of Investment, Sri Lanka. 2022. Sri Lanka Investment Guide. https://investsrilanka.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Investment-Guide-2022-31.03.2022.pdf