Kerala, being a high density population state (860 people per sq. km), managing bio and non -biodegradable waste is a huge challenge for local self-government (LSG) bodies.
The state floated the Clean Kerala Company Ltd to facilitate scientific waste management practices in collaboration with Kudumbashree, the poverty eradication mission.
Central Kerala’s Alappuzha Municipal Council set the template with the Nirmala Bhavanam Nirmala Nagaram (Clean Homes Clean City) mission in 2012, adopting decentralised waste management with people’s participation in its 52 wards.
It was so successful that the UN Environment Program recognized it as the best global model’ for sustainable solid waste management. Now 80 per cent households have set up subsidised biogas plants and segregate the waste at source.
Apart from this, pipe compost units, aerobic composting units in public places and monitoring against public littering through CCTVs have helped.
Managing plastic waste will be crucial for the plan to succeed. The Left Front government has banned sale of plastic below 50 microns, and a state order to use shredded plastics for road construction has been a big bonus.
Now 56 plastic shredding units are operating in the state and 125 units are to start production soon.
Designing locally sustainable models, people’s participation, managing the waste at the source level, these are crucial for any waste mission’s success.
Reference- India Today