Abstract:
Municipal Solid waste management (MSWM) has become an issue of concern across
the globe. Widespread urbanisation, increasing population and rising consumerism has
worsened the SWM in cities. Managing these concerns would involve building
capacity, awareness and information advocacy to initiate behavioural changes, and
investments in infrastructure. “Not in my backyard” attitude impede waste management
processes and affects sustainability. Kochi does not produce waste quantities to the
extent of the metros. But the environmental and health impacts due to the poor MSWM
requires immediate attention to the issue. The adjoining district of Alappuzha has
introduced a novel solution to waste management. At the core of the solution is the
decentralisation and community participation. The success has been noted as one of
sustainable solutions in waste management by the UN Habitat. While Kochi has
adopted centralised waste management as the preferred model for managing waste. But
lately the National Green Tribunal has taken cognizance of the inefficiency in the same.
Recently, KMC was fined once crore rupees for its poor management after repeated
warnings by state pollution board. This work aims to understand the shortcomings of
the existing system in Kochi. It also explores the role of units like Kudumbashree in
the management of waste. Any change in the existing system would require community
participation. Hence, it is imperative to understand the perception of the people as well
the KMC in adopting a decentralised waste management as adopted in Alappuzha. This
study also throws insight of the peoples understanding of the stages in SWM. It
concludes by detailing some policy recommendations by considering the waste
hierarchy pyramid.
