THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The last time a study on the quantity of waste generated in Kerala was in 2006. Suchitwa Mission recognises that it is about time to take stock of the ground situation in the state. It plans to assign an agency to study the real data and submit a report on the quantity and nature of waste generated. “We do have a plan to do an extensive study (on the waste generated). It is in the pipeline,” says K Vasuki, executive director, Kudumbashree Mission. The process has already started.
The mission has already completed a round of technical bid opening. It is in the final stages and soon the financial bid will be opened. However, the state government needs to earmark funds for the project. Since it is a comprehensive data for the whole state the project will cost high. In addition, the state plans to generate data from every municipality, corporation and panchayat through a door-to-door survey. The study will help design waste management policies better. Now, a number of the state government policies are based on the assumption that households produce the maximum biodegradable waste.
However, in several places, dumps consist mainly of chicken waste likely to have been flung by local eatouts. If it can be ascertained that hotel waste is more than household waste, the state can look at promoting biogas units or aerobic bins rather than kitchen bins. Now, the mission uses the national average per capita waste generated – 0.45 kg – to extrapolate it for the population of Kerala. However, the state average could be different since Kerala’s consumption patterns are different.
