The popularity of plastic bags has led to a dramatic increase in the amount of bags found dumped in open grounds or water bodies. Apart from dumping, another method of disposal of plastics currently in vogue in the city is burning in open heaps which releases harmful dioxins into the atmosphere. The KochiMunicipal Corporation has been promoting awareness programmes in this regard among all sections of the society through workshops, seminars and training programmes.

c-hed has initiated a project in association with Cochin University of Science And Technology and St.Teresa’s College Ernakulam, for evolving a system for managing plastic waste in the city.img_8552

The project aims at assessing the quantum and type of plastic wastes generated in Cochin city, identifying the main sources/points of generation of such waste such as households, packaging industry, hospitals, hospitality industry, furnishing industry etc, tracing the prevailing systems and channels for recycling/disposal of such wastes in the city and assess its effectiveness and identifying feasible solutions to address lacunae in prevailing systems.

The project is ongoing.