Kozhikode: The Telengana Pollution Control Board's decision to not accept hazardous waste from Kerala for recycling will pose a serious environmental threat, as the latter is devoid of a recycling mechanism.
Officials from Clean Kerala Company Ltd (CKCL), an entity formed by the Kerala local administration department, said Telengana's decision would put Kerala in crisis. They said CKCL was looking for other options.
Nodal officer for e-waste management Nagesh Kumar SS told Onamanorama that discussions were on regarding the setting up of a unit in Kuttippuram, Malappuram district.
However, no decision had been taken.
Kerala, on an average, produces 10 tonnes of e-waste and the lack of an alternative to tackle it was the need of the hour, Nagesh Kumar said.
“Hazardous waste include CFL lamps, tubelights, vapour lamps, picture tubes, catridges etc. Now, the state has an agency called Kerala Enviro Infrastructure Ltd (KEIL) in Ernakulam which deals with e-waste. But we are yet to enter into an agreement with them. Plans are also on to set up our own unit in Kuttippuram,” he said.
The recipient state does not object to small quantities of toxic waste bundled with regular e-waste.
The quantum of hazardous waste has been increasing each year with no regulation on its production and sale.
The Centre's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) rule puts the onus of disposal on the manufacturer and the customer. The absence of a pointed regulation makes the state singularly accountable.
