Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has approved a detailed action plan enabling private participation in waste collection and treatment projects. The initiative targets the processing of organic waste, wastewater and septage from households and establishments.                                              

This marks the first time the LDF government has officially acknowledged the lack of source-level processing of biowaste and proposed a plan for public waste treatment facilities. As per the framework, private entrepreneurs may establish and operate treatment plants on government land, land owned or leased by local bodies, or on their premises. Local self-government institutions can assist these ventures by offering financial aid or handing over existing plants for private operation.

The plan, developed by the Suchitwa Mission under the Local Self Government Department, outlines the selection process for entrepreneurs based on capital investment, monthly operating costs, and feasibility assessments conducted by expert panels. Project approvals will follow a tiered system: up to ₹1 crore by local committees, ₹1–5 crore by district-level bodies, and above ₹5 crore by a state-level committee.

The plan also ensures that the participation of private players will not sideline the services of the Haritha Karma Sena. Instead, it suggests the integration of this workforce into these initiatives.

Projects eligible for private participation

• Construction and operation of plants that generate energy from waste
• Setting up and running wastewater and septage treatment plants, including mobile treatment units
• Treatment facilities for sanitary pads, human hair, e-waste and hazardous waste from households
• Wastewater treatment infrastructure
• Construction and operation of modern abattoirs
• Establishment of collection centres for construction and demolition waste
• Production and distribution of inoculum for waste treatment
• Collection of non-organic waste and operation of facilities for its processing