Wasting No Time

N. Jagjeevan

Campaign Consultant, Suchitwa Mission

Kerala is moving towards the goal of becoming a waste free state. The success of Kerala’s initiative comes from the combined efforts of government departments, local bodies, private entrepreneurs and community organizations.

The ‘Malinyamuktham Navakeralam’ campaign was launched through the activities of the Haritha Keralam Mission. The efforts made between 2017 and 2021 helped establish the necessary atmosphere and basic infrastructure for decentralized and integrated waste management. At a time when efforts were underway to declare Kerala as a waste-free state, the Brahmapuram fire incident occurred on March 2, 2023. Following this, the government restructured its campaign and goals, setting a target to achieve a waste-free Kerala by March 30, 2025, coinciding with International Zero Waste Day.

Instead of viewing waste as an unusable material, the approach considers it a resource for agricultural and industrial development. The first step in transforming waste into a valuable product is source-level segregation. Activities such as composting organic waste, maximizing recycling and reducing waste generation help reinforce the responsibility of waste producers.

Collaborative Effort

Key government agencies like the Local Self-Government Department, Haritha Kerala Mission, Suchitwa Mission, and Clean Kerala Company have worked together to manage waste effectively. Kudumbashree has also played an important role. Private businesses have stepped in by investing in waste processing for items like meat, fish, hair, electronic waste, and medical waste. Now, they are expanding into other areas such as construction waste and sanitary waste. New start-manufacturing. Different government departments have started their own waste management projects. Educational institutions are creating awareness by including waste management topics in their curriculum and campus activities. Departments like Transport (KSRTC), Forest, Fisheries, Tourism, Public Works, Agriculture, Health, and many others are implementing strategies to reduce and manage waste in their operations. Overall, Kerala has turned waste management into a collective effort.

We are Reaching There

T he state has made significant progress in waste management over the past few years. The door-to-door collection of non biodegradable waste, which was 47% in 2023, has increased to 89% in 2025. The collection of user fees has also improved, rising from 35% to 72%.The use of the Harithamithram application for waste management services has expanded significantly. In 2023, 11 lakh people across 376 local self government institutions used the app. By 2025, this number has grown to 76 lakh users across 1,019 institutions.The number of temporary mini MCFs for non-biodegradable waste storage has increased from 7,446 to 21,013. Larger MCFs have grown from 1,160 to 1,325, while the number of RRFs has more than doubled, from 87 to 190. These expansions have improved both the speed and efficiency of waste management.

Towards a Circular Economy

T he number of Haritha Karma Sena members has risen from 33,378 in 2023 to 37,363 today. Clean Kerala Company has also increased its waste handling capacity significantly. While it managed 30,217 tons of non-biodegradable waste in the f inancial year 2022-23, it has already processed 45,197 tons this year, with two months still remaining. Additionally, the company’s storage capacity has grown from 87,300 square feet to 231,799 square feet. The number of Suchitwa Mission approved waste management companies has grown from 74 to 188. Infrastructure for non-biodegradable waste management has expanded, with 83 warehouses built for 53 agencies, offering a total storage capacity of 612,128 square feet and sorting facilities for 306 tons of waste per day. Special waste treatment plants have also seen growth. There are now 35 rendering plants for chicken waste and one plant for processing hair waste, all run by private entrepreneurs.

Sustainable Model

Kerala has also focused on ensuring its long-term sustainability. T he key steps taken include raising public awareness and strengthening legal enforcement. As part of this, significant amendments were made to the Panchayat and Municipality Act, and special enforcement teams were set up at both local and district levels.Strict legal action has resulted in a major increase in inspections, from 1,138 in 2023 to 50,559 in 2024 25. The fines collected have also risen sharply from ₹3 lakh to ₹5.5 crore. Additionally, surveillance has been tightened with 3,557 locations now equipped with CCTV monitoring. Kerala has also made great progress in organic waste management. Currently, 271 public biogas plants process 142.26 tons of organic waste daily. Another 1303 public composting units handle 149.36 tons of waste per day. Two Black Soldier Fly units process 100 tons of organic waste daily. At the household level, 1,591,563 home composting systems process 4,016.39 tons of waste daily, while 42,290 institution-level composting units manage 143.70 tons per day. Additionally, 1,288,182 compost pits process 1,293.38 tons of waste, and 34 large composting units handle 306.66 tons daily. Digital technology has been effectively integrated into waste management through platforms like Harithamithram, War Room Portal, and a dedicated WhatsApp number for reporting violations.

Clearing of Legacy Waste

Another major achievement is bio-mining, which has been launched in 59 locations. So far, 345,793.15 tons of waste have been processed, with work completed in 24 locations. In the 2024-25 financial year, 37,615 new projects are planned, with a total budget allocation of ₹3,326.5 crore.

Other key priority projects include: • Sanitary Waste Treatment – 54 units • Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) Plants – 19 units • Faecal Sludge Treatment Plants (FSTP) – 42 units • Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) – 290 units • Material Collection Facilities (MCF) – 486 units • Underground STPs – 19 units • Container MCFs – 260 units • Micro Treatment Units (MTU) – 25 units

Robust System Changes

T hese efforts highlight Kerala’s commitment to a well structured, technology-driven, and legally reinforced waste management system, ensuring a cleaner and more sustainable future.

Kerala has already implemented essential policies, laws, and guidelines to ensure a sustainable and efficient waste management system. Efforts are underway to introduce policies for scrap management, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), and Green Enterprises.

T he state has also been actively working to expand the recycling industry. As a result, initiatives have been taken to produce value-added products from various waste materials and develop markets for them. Clean Kerala Company has also entered this sector. Currently,75 private enterprises are engaged in recycling.

Kerala has focused on developing waste management strategies tailored to each region’s lifestyle, occupations, economic activities, and geographical conditions. This approach has allowed for localized adaptations in waste management methods, infrastructure, and collection systems. Local self government institutions (LSGIs) have played a crucial role in implementing creative, region-specific solutions.

Kerala’s initiatives align closely with global zero-waste goals, making it a model state in waste management.