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.