Coca-Cola Foundation-Backed Hydropower Facility Powers Sri Lanka's First Material Collection Centre
The Coca-Cola Foundation has backed an innovative initiative in Sri Lanka's plantation sector that combines renewable energy, recycling, community livelihoods, and environmental conservation.
The Somerset Eco Material Collection and Processing Centre (MCPC), established at Somerset Estate in Radella under Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC, is a first-of-its-kind facility powered entirely by hydropower. Funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation and implemented by Janathakshan, the centre offers a model for linking waste recovery with clean energy and inclusive economic development.
The centre draws electricity from a nearby small-scale hydropower plant on the Nanu Oya River, providing renewable power for its operations as well as charging electric three-wheelers and bicycles used to collect recyclable waste from surrounding communities. This integration reduces the carbon footprint associated with both processing and collection, demonstrating how circular-economy systems can be designed in an environmentally sound manner.
The centre also has significance beyond recycling, protecting waterways and upstream watersheds by diverting plastic waste collected from Nuwara Eliya, Nanu Oya, Agrapatana, Talawakelle, Ramboda, and Hatton. It can process approximately three metric tonnes of plastic bottles each month and supports the livelihoods of more than 10 informal waste collectors.
The initiative reflects The Coca-Cola Foundation's commitment to integrating renewable energy, circular waste management, and community empowerment to protect the environment while creating lasting value for communities.