Kerala Collects 33,945 kg of E - Waste in One Month

Thiruvananthapuram: Aiming at a scientific solution to the state’s E- Waste problem, the People’s E-waste Collection Project implemented by the Department of Local Self -Government is progressing successfully. Through this project, which began a month ago under the leadership of Harithakarmasena, a total of 33,945 kilograms of e-waste has been collected so far. Alappuzha district recorded the highest collection (12,261 kilograms).

The project is being implemented with the cooperation of the Department of Local Self-Government, Clean Kerala Company, Suchitwa Mission, and Kudumbashree.

Harithakarmasena collects 44 types of non-hazardous electronic and electrical waste by paying households a rate per kilogram. In exchange for the collected E-Waste, Harithakarmasena has so far paid households a total of 263,818.66 rupees. The payments are made either from the Harithakarmasena consortium fund or from the local body’s own funds. Once Clean Kerala Company receives the waste, this amount is reimbursed to Harithakarmasena. Currently implemented in municipalities, the project will be expanded across the entire state by next month.

TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, microwave ovens, mixer grinders, fans, laptops, computers, monitors, mice, keyboards, LCD monitors, LCD/LED televisions, printers, photocopy machines, irons, motors, mobile phones, telephones, radios, modems, air conditioners, batteries, inverters, UPS, stabilizers, water heaters, water coolers, induction cookers, SMPS, hard disks, CD drives, PCB boards, speakers, headphones, switchboards, emergency lamps, etc. can be handed over to Harithakarmasena.

The project was launched after providing training to Harithakarmasena members on the types of waste to be collected, those suitable for recycling, hazardous items, the safety standards to be followed during collection and transport, and the rates for e-waste. The collected waste is delivered to Clean Kerala Company, where it is sorted and ensured for reuse, recycling, and safe disposal. The success of this project marks a significant milestone in Kerala’s waste management efforts.