OUR AIM: TO ERADICATE THE ONGOING POLLUTION OF OCEANS AND INLAND WATERWAYS

Oceans around Sri Lanka are beautiful and biologically rich ecosystems – which are steadily filling with plastic. To preserve the health and security of our world’s oceans, it is critical that we act now. That’s why the Foundation aspires to lead the charge against marine plastics through long-term partnerships and pioneering initiatives, aligning our work for Cleaner Oceans with SDG 14 - Life Below Water.

SCALING THE OCEAN STRAINER

In August 2020, MAS piloted a simple, innovative, cost-effective solution that we called the ‘Ocean Strainer’ – a trash trap that floats across the breadth of a canal and traps plastic waste before it reaches the ocean – in Dehiwala, Colombo. In 12 months, the Ocean Strainer prevented 67,450 kilograms of waste from reaching the ocean.

The Foundation is now working with corporate and philanthropic partners for the installation of Ocean Strainers in polluted canals and waterways around Sri Lanka. We believe that by scaling this simple solution, we can drastically reduce the trash entering Sri Lanka’s seas through its waterways.

All impact estimates are based on visual and verbal reports from waste collectors between April and October 2022. Weight is calculated based on the number of tractor loads of waste collected at each location, with a waste density estimation. The Foundation will be working with research partners to conduct an independent impact assessment and audit the impact of each Ocean Strainer in 2023.