Waste collection, processing in Kerala has improved drastically post-Brahmapuram fire, Minister tells Assembly

Collection and processing of non-biodegradable waste in Kerala has increased from 47% in March 2023 to 98% at present, Minister for Local Self-Governments M.B. Rajesh told the Assembly on Wednesday (September 17, 2025).

Replying to a Calling Attention motion moved by V.K. Prasanth, MLA, Mr. Rajesh said the government has taken concerted efforts after the fire at the Brahmapuram treatment plant in Kochi in March 2023 to ensure the collection and processing of all kinds of waste. The amount of non-biodegradable waste handled by Clean Kerala Company has increased from 47,534 tons in 2023-24 to 1,52,603 tonnes in 2024-25.

He said the government declared the State as completely solid waste-free on March 30, 2025 as a result of these efforts. Local bodies that achieved at least 80% of the guidelines were declared waste-free. However, there are gaps that remain to be addressed. It is estimated that 7,398.64 tonnes of organic waste, 2,174 tonnes of non biodegradable waste and 3,099 million litres of liquid waste are generated in Kerala every day, he said.

Efforts are being made to ensure organic waste management facilities in homes and institutions and also to ensure community-level systems. As per the government’s survey, 25.12 lakh source-level organic waste management facilities are functioning in the State. The government had earlier this year announced a 5% property tax discount for those who set up facilities for processing organic waste at home.

Community biogas plants

As many as 271 community biogas plants function in the State with a daily processing capacity of 142 tonnes. The daily capacity of 1,303 aerobic compost units is 149.36 tonnes. There are 34 windrow compost units with a daily capacity of 306.66 tonnes. Two Black Soldier Fly units with a daily capacity of 100 tonnes are also in operation.

At Brahmapuram, 90% of the bio-mining activities have been completed. The remaining 10% of the 9 lakh metric tonnes of waste can be removed within a month. The construction of a compressed biogas plant that can process 150 tonnes of organic waste per day has been completed there at a cost of ₹93 crore, with the successful completion of the trial run. The work on a similar CBG plant in Palakkad is expected to be completed within two months. Similar CBG plants will also be set up in Thrissur, Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Changanassery.

Double chamber incinerators for sanitary waste treatment are currently functioning in Thrissur Corporation, Palakkad and Varkala municipalities as well as in Elavalli and Koratty grama panchayats. Four more regional plants are coming up in Kerala to treat sanitary waste. Within a few months, plants will be set up to address sanitary waste-related issues across the State.