Solid waste treatment facilities in city households found wanting

Of 41,364 families surveyed, only 13,359 have facilities that could be rated as ‘working satisfactorily’

Only about one-third of households in 38 divisions of the Kochi Corporation have proper and functional solid waste treatment facility.

This was revealed in the Haritha Keralam survey held in 41,364 households in 38 divisions of the corporation. The data on the waste treatment scenario in the remaining divisions is being processed.

Of the 41,364 households, only 13,359 have waste treatment facilities that could be rated as ‘working satisfactorily’.

Plastic waste

The survey found that plastic waste continues to be a major problem within Kochi Corporation limits. Plastic covers were used for purchasing groceries and other items by 32,720 families while those using cloth bags was only 4,135. As many as 8,896 households were either using cloth, gunny or jute bags.

Only less than half of the households surveyed segregated waste generated daily. Of the 41,364 households surveyed in 38 divisions, 2,394 families used biodegradable waste for agricultural purposes while 2,178 used it as feed for animals and birds.

As many as 1,130 households used it for making compost manure while 1,023 families used it for running bio-gas plants.

The number of households using the mechanism for waste collection initiated by the corporation in each division was 31,938, while 1,427 households gave it to private agencies involved in the collection of solid waste. Interestingly, 2,462 families admitted that they burnt biodegradable waste while 968 households said they threw such waste in public places and 834 families pointed out that they threw it carelessly in open places.

As many as 1,735 families admitted that they burnt non-biodegradable waste. Of the households surveyed, 29,636 handed over non-biodegradable waste to the corporation, 7,696 gave it to private individuals or agencies, and 163 families stored such waste in their homes itself.

As many as 1,176 families said they dumped non-biodegradable waste in public places while 1,096 households pointed out that they threw it carelessly in open places.

The survey found that the number of members in 41,364 households was 1.54 lakh. Of this, 26,724 were holding land less than three cents, 10,986 had three to 10 cents, and 3,057 families had more than 10 cents of land.