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
