ENVIS Centre: Kerala
Status of Environment and Related Issues

Soil Pollution
Soil is the dumping ground of most of the waste products-domestic, human, animal, industrial and agricultural. Every year the solid wastes dumped into the soil are increasing at an alarming rate all over the world. Large number of hazardous chemicals and several thousand tons of wastes are ultimately dumped on the land. These are leached by municipal and industrial wastes and are responsible for pollution of ground water. The problem of soil pollution is compounded by the use of agrochemicals, eg., pesticides, fungicides, bactericides, insecticides, biocides, fertilizers and manure. Besides these the soil is polluted by deadly pathogenic organisms. The soil pollution differs from air and water pollution in the sense that the pollutants in soil remain in direct contact with the soil for relatively longer periods. In fact, the soil has been heavily polluted as a result of industrial revolution and green revolution. Basically humans are responsible for the pollution of the land. The main sources of soil pollution include industrial wastes, urban and domestic waste, radioactive pollutants, agrochemicals, chemical and metallic pollutants, biological agents, acid rain etc.

Waste Generation

Kerala is a state considered to be having a developed modern society. The consumption of more resources results in the generation of more waste. All types of waste including solid, hazardous and biomedical waste generation in the state are more compared to other states in the country. There is a series of actions initiated at National and State level abate the problems arise due to the wastes, particularly the pollution problem. Solid waste generation is mainly due to industrial and domestic activities. The waste generated due to industrial activities is of hazardous as well as non-hazardous nature. The solid waste generation due to domestic sources, the garbage, is very high in the State. The biomedical wastes are generated from all health care institutions. The responsibility of collection, treatment and safe disposal of all types of solid wastes rests with the generator.
DRIVING FORCE
The Population of the State is increasing steadily, apart from the development in all spheres of life of the people. These will definitely an impact on the solid waste generation as well.
Municipal Solid Waste
Even though there are 58 urban municipalities in the state, most of the Grama panchayaths are showing the characters of urban areas particularly in respect of municipal solid waste generation. So the state should plan to have municipal waste management system in all the Grama Panchayath areas. In short the burden on the municipal solid waste will increase necessitating very huge expenditure on MSW management.
Hazardous Waste
It is observed that in the industrial sector also the State is steadily developing, in turn the hazardous waste generation will be more. Particularly the hazardous waste generated from electrical and electronics industries such as PCB, the oil wastes, waste paints and varnishes and even the house hold hazardous waste will be more.
About 423 industrial units are identified as generating and handling hazardous waste in the State as per the Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 1987. Apart from this, there are hundreds if industrial units generating industrial solid waste. All industries with wastewater treatment plants are generating solid waste. Hazardous wastes handling units are classifies on the basis of their size of operation as large, medium and small. The sector wise distribution of industrial units that hazardous waste in Kerala State us as shown in the below figure

Biomedical waste
The number of health care facilities in the State is highest among all the States. Its number and sophistication is also changing. More over, there is a trend that more and more foreigners are making use of the health care facilities in the State. This will in turn increase the quantity of biomedical waste generation and so more money to be found for waste management facilities, apart from planning for meeting the future scenario. At present the total number of beds is just about 1,10,00 and the biomedical waste generation is about 300gm/bed per day. Once the facilities in the health care establishments are improved it is estimated that the biomedical waste generation will be more that 500gm per bed per day.
Kerala is having the highest number of health care institutions as per the 1991 census. About 26% of total health care institutions in India are located in Kerala. District wise details of health care institutions, number of beds and quantity of waste generated are in the Table given below
District wise details of health care institutions, beds and waste generation

Quantity of waste generated, collected, transported and disposed
Total quantity of hazardous waste generated and handled in the state is about 82724 t/y. The quantity of recyclable hazardous waste is 10725 t/y, incinerable hazardous waste is 2596 t/y, and the balance is used for land filling

It is roughly estimated that about 1.3 to 2.0 kg/bed/day of solid wastes are generated from health care institutions of which 15 to 20% are biomedical waste. The number of beds in government and private institutions are about 40000 and 58000 respectively. About 1.5 lakh t/day of solid waste is generated from the hospitals and other health care centers in the state.

The quantity of garbage generated in the state is about 60000 t/d. This includes wastes generated from all Municipal Corporations, Municipalities and Grama Panchayath areas. The different treatment and disposal option followed in Kerala is shown below . This shows that the trend in the state is to follow one or other biodegradation methods

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Waste characteristics and its variation quantity
The Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) quality is same in all areas but its quantity varies. There are cases of biomedical waste, industrial waste and hazardous waste mixing with MSW. No segregation of MSW done in general. However in certain urban areas like Kozhikode Municipal Corporation an attempt is being made to segregate the waste.
Industrial hazardous waste quality and quantity is based on the type of source. Industrial solid waste and Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) sludge are not properly disposed. Waste generated from conventional industries like coir and cashew also causing problems.
According to the pollution potential, hazardous wastes handling units are classified into three categories namely red category (highly polluting), orange category (medium polluting) and green category (less polluting). The distribution of hazardous waste handling units as per the category wise classification is given below
 

The sector wise distribution of hazardous waste generation in the state is given in the table given below

The Coir units in Kerala are generating about 500t/y of solid wastes out of which about 143t/y is of hazardous nature as these units are having dyeing or bleaching facility.
Biomedical wastes are not fully segregated at source, though there is tremendous improvement in the biomedical waste in the State. So the entire solid waste generated from health care in institutions becomes infectious
 

District wise distribution of health care institutions in kerala

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IMPACTS
Municipal Solid Waste
The improper disposal of municipal solid waste at the disposal/dumping sites attracts rodents, files, etc. apart from this the open dumping of wastes create an unhygienic condition.
Soil Contamination
The unscientific management of municipal solid waste will lead to contamination of soil. The contamination of soil was reported from a few MSW dumping sites. The soil purification activities cannot be dreamed at the present level of economic condition of the State.
Ground water Contamination
The contamination of soil, in turn, leads to contamination of ground water. This is mainly due to percolation of leachate. The quantity of leachate will be more in Kerala due to heavy rainfall. Once the ground water is polluted it may take decades to attain the normal condition. Some studies shows that ground water contamination is observed near some waste dumping yards.
Health Problems
The open dumping areas can create health problem, as it will lead to multiplication of rodents and flies. Open dumping may result in the generation of anaerobic gases, which lead to creation of bad odour primarily resulting in a variety of diseases. There are persistent complaints from people residing near open dumping areas. Health care establishment premises with poor solid waste management are more prone to spreading diseases.
Hazardous Waste
The improper and unscientific disposal of hazardous wastes results in adverse impact on ecosystem including human health. In absence of common hazardous waste handling facilities in the State the industrial units generating hazardous waste are presently storing the wastes in their own premises.
Soil Contamination
Once hazardous wastes are disposed on land toxic metals, oils and toxic chemicals will contaminate soil. It is reported that some toxic organic chemicals can affect the soil productivity.
Ground water Contamination
The contamination of soil results in the pollution of groundwater due to heavy metals and toxic organic compounds. Groundwater once contaminated may take years to get purified. Kerala is a State where large numbers of wells are used for drawing groundwater for domestic purposes as well as for agricultural use. The use of such polluted water will affect adversely the health of the people. There are a few areas in the state near industrial units where the groundwater contamination is reported.
Health problems
The contamination of soil as well as groundwater will affect the health of the people.
Biomedical Wastes
The biomedical wastes, which comprises of toxic chemicals and pathogens will lead to more environmental problems if not managed properly.
Soil Contamination
The disposal of biomedical waste on land without treatment will lead to the contamination of soil. The disposal of needles, biomedical solid waste, etc. is a major area of concern.
Groundwater Contamination
The failure of deep burial system as well as disposal of biomedical waste incineration ash may contaminate groundwater.
Health Problems.
Cases of infectious diseases, reappearing in some parts of the State are of concern. This is feared to be mainly due to improper management and handling of biomedical waste by health care institutions.
Out of 30,000kg/d of biomedical waste only 12,000kg is incident. There are about 600 incinerators installed in Health care institutions in the State. The total installed capacity is about (600x50) 12000kg per hour. All of them are not having adequate emission cleaning facilities, which results in the generation of large quantities of gaseous emissions.

Legislative measures and their efficacy
There are a number of legislations on treatment of waste, both national as well as state level. The actions initiated in the state are the following
Municipal Solid waste:
The Municipalities Act,1994
The Panchayath Raj Act,1994
The Muncipal Solid Waste(Management and Handling) Rules 2000
The Environmental (Protection)Act, 1986
In the case of municipal solid wastes, the Govt of Kerala is having an ambitious programme-the Clean Kerala Mission. As this programme, Govt.of Kerala is planning to have scientific solid waste management system to all local bodies in the State. In the first phase, the mission proposes, to assist all urban local bodies to provide solid waste management system and then to extend the programme to all rural local bodies. The assistance is by way of preparation of solid waste management schemes, help to identify suitable waste processing and land disposal sites and extending financial assistance for matters exclusively for this purposes. It is hoped that all local bodies will be providing scientific municipal solid waste management system within next two years.
In the case of municipal solid waste management the municipal corporations, the municipalities and all the Grama Panchayaths are engaged in the solid waste management activities. The Clean Kerala Mission is assisting all local bodies for selection of proper technology, identifying treatment and disposal sites, preparing action plans, arranging training programme to various personal involved in the municipal solid waste management, etc. even though the State Pollution Control Board is a statutory agency, the Board is proactively participating in the implementation of municipal solid waste management systems.
Biomedical waste

• The Municipalities Act,1994
• The Panchayath Raj Act,1994
• The Biomedical Wastes(Management and Handling) Rules 1998
• The Environmental(Protection0,Act 1986

In the case of biomedical waste management, the Government of Kerala has prepared a vision document on biomedical waste management. This document is the first of its kind in India . As per the vision document, Government is proposing to install three common biomedical waste treatment and disposal facilities in the State. Already there is one common biomedical waste treatment and disposal plant in Kerala working at Palakkad district, The Indian Medical Association (IMA). Apart from this the IMA is having proposal to start two more common facilities at other parts of the state, which are at different stages of its implementation. Once these common facilities become a reality the environmental problems due to the biomedical waste management can be totally avoided.
In the case of biomedical waste all the health care institutions are responsible for the management of the biomedical waste generated. Most of them are having some facility or other for the treatment and disposal of biomedical waste. In many cases the facilities are as per the Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998. However it is noted that common waste management facility is the most acceptable solution for biomedical waste. Govt. is planning to have three common facilities with private participation. The Kerala State Pollution Control Board is extending all technical assistance to the State Govt. in this respect
Hazardous Waste:

• The Hazardous Waste(Management and Handling)Rules 1989
• The Environmental(Protection0,Act 1986
   

In the case of hazardous waste, temporary disposal/storage facilities in their own premises have been installed on a few places. There is a proposal to start a common hazardous waste facility at some central location
In the case of hazardous waste management with the initiative of the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation and the Industries Department Govt. is planning to have one common facility at a central place in the State. The Kerala State pollution Control Board of extending all technical help to Govt. in this aspect.
Infrastructure provided for waste collection, treatment and disposal its performance.
The Kudumbasree, a voluntary agency is assisting all local bodies for the house-to-house collection of municipal solid waste and transportation of waste.
IMAGE a sub organization under the IMA has installed a common biomedical waste treatment and disposal facility at Kanjikode in Palakkad district. The IMAGE is giving training to health care workers of hospitals affiliated to their facility on segregated storage of biomedical waste, precautions to be taken while handling the biomedical waste, storage of biomedical waste, use of needle destroyers, provisions of the Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998, etc. they undertake transportation of biomedical waste to their common treatment facility after proper segregation and labeling.
The proposed common facility of hazardous waste will have collection and transportation arrangements, also apart from treatment and disposal.
Infrastructure for monitoring
The Kerala State Pollution Control Board is continuously and vigorously monitoring the waste management activities by various agencies as well as the environmental problems if treatment, disposal etc. corrective measures are suggested to adopt environment friendly techniques for the management of all sorts of solid waste.
Economic incentives for waste management
The State govt. is providing incentives by way of grants for putting up municipal solid waste management programmes. The Govt. of India under the ministry of Environment and Forests is having a funding mechanism by sharing the investment cost under their model facility scheme. One municipal corporation in the state has already availed of this facility and a few other local bodies are waiting for Government of India assistance.
Role of stakeholders, community participation, awareness, education
In the case of biomedical waste and hazardous waste management the generators are the main stack holders. The generators are responsible for the proper management of waste. However, though the local bodies are the main stack holders, the community participation is very important. The awareness and education of the public is equally of importance in this case.
The awareness of the health care workers and their education and awareness of industrial workers and their education is important in the case of biomedical waste management and hazardous waste management.
The Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment, Kerala State Pollution Control Board, Clean Kerala Mission, Universities, Professional Organizations, Productivity Council, NGOs etc have taken lead in the awareness and education activities.