CLEANTECH
Biodiversity Means Business:
A Decade of Impact,
A Future of Action
“Cleantech champions the dignity and empowerment of its workforce – the unsung heroes who maintain healthy environments”
CEO
Manager – Sustainability
As Sri Lanka’s largest waste management company, Cleantech places sustainability at the heart of its mission. With over two decades of experience in solid and liquid waste management and recycling, its work is intrinsically linked to biodiversity conservation.
The company delivers 360 degree solutions covering collection, segregation, recycling and resource recovery – integrating waste streams rather than treating them separately.
“Our entire business model is fundamentally rooted in sustainability. Every solution we deliver integrates ecological preservation, making our partnership with Biodiversity Sri Lanka (BSL) a natural and essential fit,” says CEO Rukitha Nanayakkara.
Through BSL, Cleantech engages in science based policy advocacy, capacity building and setting industry standards for biodiversity positive operations. While the extended producer responsibility (EPR) online portal was implemented by BSL, this collaboration enabled Cleantech to boost its waste collection by registering on the platform and strengthening lifecycle accountability.
INNOVATION IN PRACTICE He adds; “At the core of Cleantech’s operations is a state-of-the-art, 35,000 square foot recycling facility in Wattala – Sri Lanka’s largest e-waste export hub.”
“Here, the company processes plastics, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles and electronic waste while adhering to zero waste to landfill certification standards. By diverting 99.9 percent of collected waste away from landfills, Cleantech prevents harmful environmental impacts while maximising resource recovery,” Nanayakkara elaborates.
The company produces 100 percent recycled plastic pellets sourced from municipal waste and other collection channels, meeting the Global Recycled Standard (GRS). These materials are reintroduced into production cycles, reducing the extraction of virgin resources and minimising ecosystem disruption.
Collaborations with Mitsubishi Corporation allow for the extraction of precious metals from e-waste while strategic alliances with plastics manufacturers and trusted Chinese partners transform recycled PET into raw materials for a wide range of products, reinforcing sustainable global supply chains.
BUSINESS GAINS Cleantech’s material recovery operations handle an impressive annual volume – processing 360,000 kilogrammes of plastics; 360,000 kilogrammes of PET bottles; 240,000 kilogrammes of e-waste; and 120,000 kilogrammes each of metal, paper and glass.
Manager – Sustainability Zev Pestonjee says: “This scale of recovery substantially reduces waste entering rivers, wetlands and coastal zones, protecting both endemic and migratory species.”
“From a business standpoint, Cleantech has seen a 60 percent growth in corporate clientele in recent years. Its ability to deliver verifiable environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) data has made it a trusted partner for some of the country’s largest brands,” he adds.
Pestonjee notes that Cleantech’s stakeholder engagement spans partnerships with research and regulatory bodies; collaborations with policy groups to design circular economy solutions; and initiatives such as the Tissamaharama Material Recovery Facility, which boosts regional economies through job creation and technical training.
Cleantech champions the dignity and empowerment of its workforce – the unsung heroes who maintain healthy environments. By offering fair treatment, skills development and recognition, the company ensures its employees take pride in their contribution to sustainability.
LESSONS LEARNED Cleantech’s journey has been shaped by four major challenges: changing societal mindsets around waste management, which it tackled through extensive awareness programmes in schools, universities, communities and corporate offices; and limited regulatory support, prompting the company to take an active advocacy role with regulators, researchers and policy makers to strengthen waste management frameworks.
Nanayakkara avers: “The other key hurdles include achieving commercial sustainability – managed through patience, passion and determination to balance environmental services with financial viability despite tight profit margins – and building trust in recycled products, addressed by securing top national and international certifications including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, the Global Recycled Standard and SGS Zero Waste to Landfill.”
Reflecting on this journey, Pestonjee notes: “We’ve learned that success in sustainability is not merely about technology or infrastructure – it’s about persistence, partnerships, and earning the trust of both the public and clients.”
The company also cautions against superficial ‘tick the box’ environmentalism, urging corporates to invest in genuine partnerships that create a tri-party victor – where businesses meet real sustainability targets, Cleantech achieves its waste management goals and the environment benefits in measurable, lasting ways.
Telephone 0704 889889 | Email info@cleantech.lk | Website www.cleantech.lk
