Corporation set to tie-up with Clean Kerala, Bevco for pilot project

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Corporation, which spends a considerable sum for collection and transportation of dry waste in city, is set for a tie-up with Clean Kerala Company (CKC) to collect and transport empty beer and liquor bottles.
In what is being touted as a pilot project under extended producer responsibility (EPR), CKC has proposed setting up collection bins in select material recovery centres (MRC) of the corporation. CKC has inked another pact with Kerala state beverages corporation (Bevco) for collection and recycling of empty liquor and beer bottles.
As per the proposal, corporation will earn Rs 5/kg for glass bottles and beer bottles, Rs 10/kg for plastic bottles and Rs 7.50/kg for cans. CKC has identified 10 MRCs where collection bins, exclusively for beer and liquor bottles, would be placed.
As per the order issued by environment department regarding the ban on plastic, Bevco, Kerafed, Milma and KWA were directed to take up EPR by which plastic products being sold will be taken back, based on specified rates.
EPR is a statutory requirement for all producers and brand owners who sell or import electronic goods, plastic products, packaged goods and all manufacturers of disposable products such as tin, glass, plastic packaging, etc. Pollution control board (PCB) has mandated that it is the duty of producers and brand owners to take steps to channelize waste to authorized dismantler or recycler to ensure environment-friendly waste management.
A position paper on EPR prepared by corporation showed that collection and transportation of plastic waste through MRC accounts for 20-30% of the actual cost being incurred for disposal of dry waste from households in city. The civic body spends a sizable sum for manual labour being employed at collection centres and for conducting special collection drives based on dry waste collection calendar.
At present, corporation collects Rs 820/tonne for collection and transportation of glass waste. The civic body also earns rates for six types of waste as well ranging between 50 paise to Rs 4/kg for segregated dry waste, coconut shell, husk, firewood, e-waste and hard plastic.
The new venture with CKC is expected to relieve the financial burden of corporation that has decided to broaden non-biodegradable waste management with micro-level segregation and storage focusing on recovery of saleable types.
The dry waste, which is now being collected and stored through special collection drives, dry waste collection hubs and MRC will be categorized as 16 different types which will include paper, pet bottles, hard plastic, white plastic covers, colour plastic, milk cover, oil cover, multi-layer cover, carry bags, bags, sandals, rubber, coconut shell, firewood, clothes and others.