Taking waste management to the next level, Kerala is all set to conduct a waste survey and based on the data generated out of the survey, the local bodies will be incorporated to devise projects on waste management.
The survey, to be held from August 6 to 13, will take stock of waste generated from every unit, household, offices and business firms in the state.
To be done through local bodies across the state, the survey has been envisaged by Nava Kerala Mission, launched in 2016, to address issues related to health, education, agriculture and housing in association with the local bodies.
Details about biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste will be collected through the waste. The survey will also examine the existing waste management systems.
The survey, the first one to be conducted at the state level in a more comprehensive way, will be carried out through volunteers and workers of the State Kudumbashree Mission, selected by the local bodies. One person will collect details from two houses or offices.
The quantity of waste generated, is at present, calculated by extrapolating the data published by Suchitwa Mission, functioning under the Local Self Government Department, years ago. Suchitwa Mission is responsible for evolving implementation strategy, providing policy in the sectors of sanitation and various solid and liquid waste management issues.
The survey was mooted given the fact that the quantity and nature of waste may have changed with time.
“It is a tedious task. Training will be given for the Kudumbashree workers and volunteers who will visit households and offices to quantify the amount of waste generated. Kerala Institute of Local Administration has begun giving training for them,” Haritha Kerala Mission Technical Office P Ajaya Kumar told TNM.
Haritha Kerala mission is one of the four projects launched under Nava Kerala Mission.
Mass awareness campaigns will also be conducted to make the public aware about the survey and the need to cooperate with it. “The objective is to use the survey results to frame projects in the future to address the grave issue of waste management. Projects that could treat waste at its origin will be given priority.
Prior arrangements for the survey have already been done considering its comprehensive nature,” Ajayakumar added.
All the local bodies have been framing projects for waste management. The survey will collect details which would be helpful for the local bodies to devise projects. Nava Kerala Mission has prepared the study material for the survey that will be distributed till the ward level.
The survey is also considering the experts view that policies, for energy from waste, would depend on the amount of wet waste generated. For this reason, the nature of the waste also needs to be recorded.
Apart from the voluntary and Kudumbashree workers, people’s representatives, residents’ associations, and people from all walks of life will be roped in by the civic bodies, for the initiative being taken up as part of the Garbage-Free project in Kerala.