With no scientific disposal of e-waste and hazardous waste in the State, Clean Kerala Company Ltd has embarked on a project to tackle the menace.
As a first step, land has been identified at Kuttipuram in Malappuram to set up an e-waste dismantling and recycling unit along with an integrated plastic management facility.
To facilitate the unit, four places have been identified in Kannur, Malappuram, Kochi, and Kottayam to set up collection centres of e-waste and hazardous waste. Two more will be identified soon.
Bids invited
These places will act as segregation centres for recyclable or non-recyclable e-waste and hazardous waste, including electrical and electronic waste. Bids have been invited from companies to manage these centres.
The lone Central Pollution Control Board-approved e-waste collection centre in the State is at Kanjikode, said Kesavan Nair, managing director, Clean Kerala.
The e-waste handling facility at Kuttipuram will come up in 3 acres at an estimate of ₹5 crore, for which the government is expected to contribute some funds, says Mr. Nair. The facility will be ready next year, he added.
Kanjikode facility
The collection centre at Kanjikode is managed by Earth Sense Environment Ltd, which has a facility in Hyderabad to dismantle and process e-waste.
Its facilities in Hyderabad had been inspected and approved before awarding it the tender. A major drawback is the transfer of waste from one State to another, which has been discouraged under the e-waste and hazardous waste handling rules, Mr. Nair said.
Over the past three years, 2,350 tonnes of hazardous and e-waste had been collected by Clean Kerala. The target this year was 400 tonnes.
“There is only one hazardous waste disposal unit located at Ambalamugal in Ernakulam. Kerala Environ Infrastructure Ltd was set up to process waste generated from industrial units. This facility handles non-recyclable and hazardous waste such as tube lights, CFL lamps, batteries, broken DVDs, CDs, cartridges, and so on.”
He said Clean Kerala had prepared a list of 44 e-waste and hazardous waste items, including computers, laptops, accessories, mobiles, air-conditioners, and televisions.
Usually government offices and private establishments had a condemnation procedure, while the public did not know what to do with the old mobiles or unused computers or laptops or other electrical or electronic equipment.
Discussions planned
“We plan to discuss with various companies about the manufacturer’s and the dealer’s responsibility of taking it back after the end-of-life period. e-waste needs to be handled as per the e-waste management rules, 2016 and these issues have been spelt out in the rules. Clean Kerala intends to make a beginning to implement them,” Mr. Nair said.
