Clean Kerala

The local self-government institutions (LSGIs) have the primary responsibility for implementing integrated solid waste management systems in urban areas. They also have inherent capability to promote activities concerning waste to wealth, hygienic environment, overall cleanliness and environmental up gradation. However, lack of expertise and man power to conceive and evolve sustainable waste management programmes using appropriate technology options, probably, keep them away from such a front line activity. Therefore, government felt it necessary to have mechanism to perform the act of an enabler and facilitator for the LSGIs and a motivator to the society. Hence, the Clean Kerala Mission (CKM).

The CKM aims at establishing socially acceptable, technically feasible, operationally sustainable and financially viable solid waste management facilities and services; strengthening the managerial capacity and responsibility of the community and local governments in planning, implementing and maintaining solid waste management facilities and services; raising the awareness of the community on the critical role of hygienic behavior for improving environmental sanitation condition and enabling the networking and co-ordination of agencies and groups working in this sector. Initially, the thrust area, certainly, will be the urban areas.

Upgrading solid waste management through a systematic and comprehensive approach, in tandem with environmental and legal obligations, will need to consider various aspects such as segregation of waste at source, proper and prompt collection and transportation, appropriate design of equipment and vehicles to avoid manual handling, technological options for resource recovery, developing secured land fill sites, training and capacitating solid waste management personnel, elected functionaries and Community Development Society (CDS), effective monitoring, imparting Information, Education and Communication and awareness for community etc. It is expected that perceptible improvement in solid waste management service delivery can be brought about within a short span by streamlining the existing system and making it more efficient and effective through well conceived strategies.

Certain thrust areas that require immediate intervention are capacity utilization of staff, equipments and machinery chain to improve the productivity of solid waste management staff and equipment, outsourcing the responsibility for primary collection (door step collection) to the CDS system (or any other agency identified through a transparent process), placing Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) as alternative to large systems, improving efficiency of enforcement system, preparing collection schedule scientifically, synchronizing primary collection with transportation schedule and disposal facilities, providing greater attention to slums and traditionally unclean areas, ban on littering, integrating solid waste management activities under one umbrella and evolving separate action plan and schedule for street cleaning. The key to success, however, will be a very high degree of human behaviour change.