Those who are facing problems in the handling and disposal of e-waste and equipment coming under hazardous categories will be provided with an opportunity by the Corporation.
The civic body is planning to launch a programme to collect e-waste from various households and commercial establishments from the entire 22 health circles within its limit.
The major aim of the project is to help people dispose of e-waste and transport them safely for recycling thereby creating a greener and healthier environment.
The date for collecting e-waste on each health circles will be announced by the Corporation. The inauguration of the project will be held on March 26 at the Ernakulam Town Hall.
“We are implementing the project with the help of Kothamangalam Social Service Society, an NGO. We will have a collection point each at the 22 Health circles that come under the Corporation. The public can deposit e-waste at these collection points. We will later transport the e-waste from these points and hand it over to the NGO who will later transport it to an agency in Delhi which has got the licence to recycle e-waste,” said Kochi Corporation Health Standing Committee chairman T K Ashraf.
Ashraf said the selected agency has a good track record in handling e-waste and the NGO has reached an agreement with the agency in the disposal of the materials. However, he added that they will not pay those who handover the recyclable materials. “We do not have a transit storage space for collection, sorting and storage of non-biodegradable materials here. Hence, the materials will be transported immediately to the agency’s office. We are doing this as a service for the public to get rid of the e-waste, including hazardous ones. E-waste range staring from tube lights to old picture tubes and non-biodegradable materials can be deposited at the collection points,” he added.