Fire Ravages Plastic Recovery Plant in Perumbavoor, Prompting Safety Review

A blaze on October 12 ripped through a 20,000‑square‑foot material recovery plant in Arackappady near Perumbavoor, destroying tonnes of plastic waste stored there. Fire‑fighters who tackled the inferno said the site lacked basic fire‑prevention measures, noting that waste should be kept in separate sections to stop flames from spreading. They added that large‑scale facilities normally use water curtains – continuous streams from special nozzles – and that a fire‑department no‑objection certificate should be mandatory for licensing. A senior officer from the Fire and Rescue Services warned that similar plants may exist elsewhere in Ernakulam district and urged authorities to locate them and enforce safety standards. The gutted unit belonged to a private Kochi‑based waste‑management firm that is one of about 15 companies approved by the Suchitwa Mission to handle non‑biodegradable waste in the district. Unauthorised operators also run in the sector. Waste gathered by Haritha Karma Sena volunteers is taken to collection points, sorted, and then moved to recovery centres for reuse or recycling. A founder of a local waste‑management company, which serves several municipal bodies, said many newcomers ignore safety rules, fail to sort waste properly, and tend to over‑stock beyond design capacity. He urged regular safety inspections by the responsible local authorities.

Context

Ernakulam’s waste‑handling network relies on both government‑approved firms and informal players. Proper segregation and fire safeguards are crucial because accumulated plastic can ignite rapidly, posing risks to nearby communities and disrupting recycling efforts.