Aafrin Kidwai 
Material Recovery Facility (For representational purpose only)
With the extended lockdown halting the movement of non-biodegradable waste from Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) of local bodies Kerala, the local self-government department is working out solutions for treatment and disposal of rejects of non-biodegradable waste.
The over-dependence on Common Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility (CTSDF) operated by Kerala Enviro Infrastructure Ltd (KEIL) has posed challenges for Clean Kerala Co (CKC). Recently, the environment department had to give special sanction for temporary use of CTSDF site for disposing of the non-biodegradable solid waste to a maximum limit of 2000 MT.
Lack of scientific sanitary landfills in the state, even four years after solid waste management rules had mandated setting up of landfills, is hurting local bodies more than ever before as waste has been piling up in recovery facilities. While CKC has been baling and shredding plastic waste with a view to using it for road tarring, the rejects and stained, non-recyclable kind is getting accumulated at local landfills. According to The Times of India, the CKC has suggested three regional landfills in South, Central, and North Kerala instead of creating a single landfill for the state, in view of the constraints to get land for the landfills.
Picture Credit: Ignácio Costa, TriagemDeLixo, CC BY 3.0
