Kerala: Kudumbashree to stop waste collection

Kozhikode: The efforts by Kudumbashree workers for the last several years, has been the reason why the city has not turned into a garbage dump. But now as the Corporation is moving ahead with the project to promote home-based garbage processing, Kudumbashree waste collection will gradually stop from March 30. The corporation expects to stop door-to-door waste collection completely in six months.

From March 30, Kudumbashree sanitation workers will gradually stop collecting biodegradable waste. They will instead start taking only plastic waste from houses and charge between Rs 80 and Rs 100 for this service. Even though the job of 700- odd Kudumbashree sanitation workers are at stake, the corporation entrusted them with the responsibility of promoting home- based garbage processing.

“The waste generated by the city is increasing day-by-day and 90 percent of the houses depend on Kusdumbashree workers”, said KV Baburaj, Corporation Health Standing Committee Chairman.  “We have several options available to treat bio-degradable garbage generated in each house. Our mission is to induce a culture of waste segregation in the household itself,” he added.

“Recently we formed the Haritha sena team, with more Kudumbashree sanitation workers in it. They have been given training in implementing the biogas plant and other waste treating facilities. In the initial phase, these members will create awareness among the public about the need for processing the waste generated in one’s house,” he said.

The Corporation has introduced 50 per cent subsidy for the biogas plant and other similar facilities.