Voluntary groups pledge support for Wayanad’s e-waste-free drive

Voluntary organisations and NGOs have pledged support for the e-waste collection drive in Wayanad, Keralam, as it aims to become the country’s first completely e-waste-free district by November 1.

The organisations gave the assurance at an online meeting convened by Agriculture Minister T. Siddique on Monday to review preparations for the initiative. The Minister said the active involvement of voluntary organisations and NGOs would help achieve the target.

Mr. Siddique also reviewed the progress made by local self-government institutions and called for the responsible participation of local bodies, commercial establishments, individuals, households and other institutions to make the campaign a success.

The Minister directed officials to ensure that e-waste was collected from every part of the district, including commercial establishments, restaurants, resorts, homestays, households and public spaces. All wards and panchayats in the district are to be declared e-waste-free by November 1. He also called for the Haritha Karma Sena to be fully mobilised for the drive.

Local body representatives said arrangements for waste collection and scientific disposal were being completed in coordination with the three-tier panchayati raj institutions.

The meeting called for the documentation of e-waste collected from each ward and division to be completed within the stipulated time. Mr. Siddique also directed officials to convene meetings with representatives of commercial establishments, restaurants, resorts and homestays at the earliest to highlight the importance of the campaign.

The initiative has entered its second phase, focusing on households and private establishments, after 31 tonnes of e-waste were collected from government offices across the district in the first phase, held from September 28 to 30.

Of the waste collected from government offices, Kalpetta and Sultan Bathery accounted for 12 tonnes each, while Mananthavady contributed five tonnes and Panamaram two tonnes. The collected waste was handed over to the Clean Kerala Company for scientific processing and disposal.

The second phase is being implemented with the support of local self-government institutions, elected representatives and Haritha Karma Sena members. E-waste is being collected through ward-level counters and door-to-door drives before being handed over to agencies contracted by local bodies for scientific processing and disposal. People are eligible for compensation at government-fixed rates for the e-waste they hand over.