Following the successful use of non-recyclable plastic waste to tar state highways, the public works department (PWD) in Kerala is planning to extend the innovative project to cover all roads in the state. Launched in 2017 with support from the Clean Kerala Company, the initiative utilizes plastic waste, including items like food storage containers, disposable diapers, and bottle caps. As of November 2023, statistics from Clean Kerala indicate that 1,579.59 metric tonnes of shredded plastic have been utilized for this purpose. The Haritha Karma Sena has been entrusted by the state government to oversee the collection process, conducting door-to-door campaigns at the block, village, and panchayat levels to gather and segregate plastic waste.
Clean Kerala Managing Director G K Suresh Kumar highlighted that the company collects around 1,000 tonnes of segregated recycled plastic waste monthly, along with an additional 200 tonnes of unclaimed plastic waste. The shredded plastic is sold to the PWD at rates ranging from ?16 to ?20 per kilogram. Expanding its services, Clean Kerala now collects various types of waste, including glass, cloth, e-waste, drug strips, tyres, shoes, and hazardous waste. With over 800 local bodies in the state utilizing the company’s services, it has become a crucial support system for waste collection and segregation. In June, the local self-government department reported a significant increase in waste collection, with Clean Kerala collecting 5,355.08 tonnes in May, compared to 3,728.74 tonnes in the same month the previous year. The funds allocated to the Haritha Karma Sena also witnessed an increase, reaching ?63.55 lakh in May and ?57.02 lakh in April.
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