Wayanad pushes to become India's first e-waste-free district by November

Voluntary groups and NGOs have promised to support Wayanad's plan to become India's first e-waste-free district by November 1. Agriculture Minister T. Siddique led an online meeting on Monday to check the progress of the campaign.

Second Phase Focus

The project is now in its second phase, which targets homes and private businesses. The first phase ran from September 28 to 30 and collected 31 tonnes of e-waste from government offices. Kalpetta and Sultan Bathery collected 12 tonnes each, Mananthavady added five tonnes, and Panamaram brought in two tonnes. The Clean Kerala Company took this waste for safe processing.

Collection Plan

Officials must collect e-waste from shops, hotels, resorts, homestays, homes, and public areas. Every ward and panchayat must be declared free of e-waste by November 1. The Haritha Karma Sena will be fully used for this work. People who hand over their old electronic items will get paid at rates set by the government.

Context

Electronic waste includes discarded phones, computers, and other electrical items that need special recycling methods to prevent toxic materials from harming the environment. Local self-government bodies in Kerala often use community workers like the Haritha Karma Sena to manage waste collection at the grassroots level.