States » SouthPosted at: Oct 2 2026 8:46AM

Kerala launches five-year campaign for 100% waste management
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 2 (UNI) Kerala is embarking on an ambitious five-year campaign to achieve 100 per cent scientific waste management across the State and attain zero-waste status by March 30, 2031.
The state-level inauguration of the ‘Nirmalam – Puthuyuga Shuchithwa Keralam’ campaign will be held at Sunny Convention Centre at North Paravur in Ernakulam, with Chief Minister V D Satheesan formally launching the programme.
The campaign, being implemented with public participation under the leadership of the Local Self-Government Department and coordinated by Suchitwa Mission, is aimed at making Kerala a model State in waste management, Local Self-Government Minister K M Shaji has said.
The campaign will be implemented in three phases, with March 30, 2031 set as the deadline for making Kerala a completely waste-free State.
The first phase, from October 2, 2026 to October 2, 2027, targets organic waste treatment facilities in 30 per cent of households and institutions and source-level treatment by 20 per cent of bulk waste generators.
As part of this phase, 100 local bodies will be brought to full organic waste treatment capacity. Systems will be established in corporations for collecting waste from demolished buildings, while scientific treatment of 40 per cent of sanitary waste will be ensured. Construction of two new sanitary waste treatment plants will also be completed.
The second phase, from October 2, 2027 to June 5, 2030, will expand organic waste treatment coverage to 70 per cent of households and institutions and bring 500 local bodies to full organic waste treatment capacity.
New recycling plants will be established through public-private partnerships and private investment. An advanced e-waste treatment plant will be set up, construction of a plant for waste from demolished buildings will commence and four sanitary waste treatment plants will be made operational.
The final phase, from June 5, 2030 to March 30, 2031, will aim to provide complete organic waste treatment facilities to all households and institutions and ensure 100 per cent collection and scientific management of non-biodegradable waste.
Recycling plants for plastic, glass, e-waste, textiles and paper will be established. Waste-to-energy and demolished-building waste treatment plants will be made fully operational, while modern public toilets will be provided across the State.
The government is also considering establishing a Waste Management Authority or corporation by bringing together different government agencies involved in waste management, Shaji said.
The commissioning of 12 refuse-derived fuel (RDF) plants at different locations in Kerala and a 500 tonnes-per-day waste-to-energy plant in Kochi will help eliminate the need to transport non-biodegradable waste collected by local bodies outside the State.
Organic waste treatment plants will be established in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode and Kannur districts.
The progress of the campaign will be reviewed every three months at meetings chaired by the Chief Minister.
A statewide cleaning drive involving the public will be held from October 2 to 7 as part of the campaign.
Ministers V E Abdul Gafoor, Roji M John and Anoop Jacob, besides MPs, MLAs, local body representatives, prominent personalities from the social and political spheres and officials, will attend the inaugural programme.
UNI DS