NOTHING TO WASTE

Public participation and innovative schemes have been key in Kerala’s success on the waste management front

The ‘Kerala model’ of development has been a subject of discussion even globally, but the state has struggled in one area—effective waste management systems. Being a high density population state (860 people per sq. km), managing bio and nonbiodegradable waste is a huge challenge for local selfgovernment (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 Programme recognised 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. State finance minister Dr Thomas Isaac, who represents Alappuzha constituency, leads the project from the front. “Designing locally sustainable models, people’s participation, manage the waste at the source level, these were crucial for the mission’s success,” says Dr Isaac.

The Alappuzha model’s success led to other LSG bodies using its methods to manage their waste. Kerala also set up a Haritha Karma Sena, part of the Haritha Kerala (Green Kerala) Mission for waste segregation and collection in all local bodies.

After the 2018 floods, rebuilding Kerala has its own huge challenges. Innovation has been key here. “Our attempt now is to create a global model from Kerala through innovation, public participation and responsible government action to make the state more clean and green,” says Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

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.