Municipal Solid Waste Management: A Case Study of the Centralised Waste Management in Kochi

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.