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Kerala’s current strategy of offloading its non-biodegradable waste to other states is unsustainable, contends a comprehensive new report, released in Thiruvananthapuram on February 21, 2025. The study criticised the practice of transferring plastic and electronic waste — sent chiefly to Tamil Nadu for recycling and incineration in cement plants — as merely a short-term fix that shifts the environmental burden to neighbouring regions.
Instead, the report argued, Kerala must prioritise the development of robust, internally managed solutions to tackle its mounting waste crisis.
Titled Choking on Toxic Smoke: The Brahmapuram Garbage Disaster in Kochi and Municipal Solid Waste Management in Kerala, the report is the result of extensive ground-level research conducted by environmental journalist M Suchithra and waste management expert C Surendranath. Their investigation, carried out under climate think tank Asar Social Impact Advisors, involved numerous field visits, consultations with experts and community members, and a detailed review of thousands of documents.
The Brahmapuram fire in March 2023 served as a stark reminder of the urgent need for reform. The blaze not only decimated 800,000 tonnes of accumulated legacy waste, but also released dangerous pollutants into the atmosphere, highlighting the potentially devastating long-term impacts on human health and the environment.
While scientific analyses have confirmed the release of alarming levels of hazardous substances during the fire, the study revealed a worrying gap: There is a lack of comprehensive research on the long-term effects of these chemicals on local communities and ecosystems.
The report is particularly scathing of the Kochi Municipal Corporation. It points to a series of missteps, including the poor selection of a landfill site on a sensitive wetland, the continued dumping of unsegregated waste without the consent of the Kerala State Pollution Control Board since 2010, and generally ineffective pollution management.
“These actions have led to violations of important environmental laws and insufficient disaster preparedness, with a Standard Operating Procedure only being established a year after the fire,” stated the paper, underscoring the reactive nature of current policies.
Kerala currently generates approximately 11,449 tonnes of municipal solid waste each day, produced by six municipal corporations, 87 municipalities and 941 panchayats. Since 1994, the responsibility for sanitation and health has been devolved to local self-government institutions (LSGI) under the Kerala Municipalities Act and the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act.
“The Solid Waste Rules of 2000 mandated that urban local bodies establish centralised facilities for waste disposal,” the study said. In practice, however, it found that many of these facilities — such as centralised composting plants — have underperformed due to inaccurate estimates of waste generation, poor segregation at source, the selection of inappropriate technologies and operational shortcomings.
The study also highlighted the environmental hazards posed by 44 identified legacy waste dumps across the state, many of them located near watebodies. “This open dumping has contributed to a rise in health issues throughout the state,” the report asserted.
While the study praised the decentralised waste management models in Alappuzha Municipality and the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation — where residents are actively involved in segregation, composting and recycling — it also noted that audits have uncovered significant deficiencies.
These include insufficient infrastructure, underutilisation of existing facilities, and unreliable data on waste composition and volume, all of which hamper effective waste management.
“An audit by the decentralised Auditor General of India in 2022, covering 2016-2021, revealed that none of the audited urban local bodies performed underutilisation surveys mandated by the Solid Waste Management Manual 2020. Instead, they relied on per capita waste accumulation estimates, which proved to be unreliable,” observed the study.
The issue of plastic pollution is another cause for concern. Despite the introduction of a ban on single-use plastics in 2020, Kerala continues to be plagued by an accumulation of plastic litter along its coastline. Major water bodies, such as Vembanad and Ashtamudi Lakes, now exhibit disturbing levels of microplastic contamination, with commonly consumed fish testing positive for these particles.
E-waste management is similarly problematic. Although the E-Waste (Management) Rules of 2016 mandate strict safety protocols, compliance remains lax. Hazardous materials — including computer monitors and refrigerators — are often left exposed in scrap shops and local collection facilities. Moreover, the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework, which holds manufacturers accountable for the environmental impact of their products, is widely under-implemented.
Despite notable progress in managing biodegradable waste, Kerala’s handling of non-biodegradable waste remains a formidable challenge. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has even initiated suo motu cases against the state for dumping waste in Tamil Nadu.
Recent compliance reports indicate that, in addition to Tamil Nadu, Kerala is shipping its plastic waste to Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. Daily, more than 800 tonnes of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) are transported out of the state.
“In the latest case, in December 2024, KSPCB was forced to collect back the waste and issue notices to the violators,” the report said.
The authors of the paper argued that sustainable waste management must be integrated into broader development strategies. “Recognising the interconnectedness of waste management, public health, ecosystem integrity, climate change and social inequalities is essential,” said Suchithra.
“Kerala must integrate its waste management strategies with land-use planning, community health initiatives and social justice efforts,” Surendranath said, adding that prioritising waste management in the state’s environmental budget is crucial if Kerala is to avoid repeating past mistakes.
The study also warned against an over-reliance on centralised, high-cost, energy-intensive waste-to-energy plants as a silver bullet. Authorities must critically assess whether these technologies are the best available option, whether a reliable supply of waste can be guaranteed, and if effective pollution monitoring systems are in place.
Simultaneously, the expeditious clearance of legacy waste through biomining and bioremediation, along with the design of scientifically sound landfills, is imperative.
In a positive development, several LSGIs in the state — such as Vatakara Municipality—have initiated innovative microenterprise schemes focused on reusing and recycling waste. These initiatives not only contribute to improved waste management but also generate local employment and income. The report suggested that such successful models should be replicated across Kerala to foster both environmental sustainability and socio-economic resilience.