Can Community Participation Drive Better Waste Management? A Case of Haritha Karma Sena Model

Introduction

Waste management is a pressing global challenge. The World Bank reports that urban areas generate an estimated 2.01 billion tonnes of solid waste annually, of which at least 33% is managed in an environmentally unsafe manner. In India, the average quantity of solid waste generated is 1,70,338 tonnes per day, of which only around 53  percent is  treated. Understanding the gravity of the waste management issue, the Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) revised the Municipal Solid Waste Rules (Management & Handling), 2000 to form the Solid Waste Management Rules in 2016. While the former was applicable to every municipal authority, the purview of the latter extends beyond Municipal area to cover urban agglomerations, census towns, notified industrial townships, enterprises and organisations under the control of Central and State Government, pilgrim centres as well as places of historical importance.

As per these regulations, the state governments are in charge of creating a solid waste management plan and state policy after consulting with various stakeholders, such as waste pickers’ representatives, self-help groups, and other organisations that operate in the waste management industry. The states across India have implemented efficient and innovative waste management initiatives that take a holistic approach. However, these initiatives are heavily reliant on collective commitment from individuals, communities, organisations and other relevant stakeholders for its success. Community-led initiatives in waste management can be more sustainable as they ensure local participation, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility, leading to better compliance with waste segregation and recycling practices.

Community-led Initiatives in Waste Management

There have been notable community-led initiatives in waste management across the country. ‘Swachh Ambikapur Mission Sahakari Samiti Maryadit’ in Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh, was the first group of SHGs of sanitation workers in Chhattisgarh, with over 440 women trained and deployed. SWaCH, the cooperative of self-employed waste pickers in Pune, Maharashtra, were taken on board by the municipal authorities to expand its function across the city to impact 6.6 lakh households through three thousand workers. In Tamil Nadu’s Madukkarai, waste management was approached through NGO-corporate partnership model, worked between ACC Limited and local NGOs. Consequently, 50 women from the immediate locality were trained as Green Friends for door-to-door waste collection. Telangana trained and engaged community Resource Persons from existing SHGs, known as Swachh Doots (Messengers of cleanliness) to sensitise households. A team of two ‘Swachh Doots’ are assigned per ward with 800-1,000 households, reaching out to about 40-50 households per day at a monthly nominal amount as remuneration. The state of Kerala initiated Haritha Karma Sena to ensure door to door waste collection and management across local self-government bodies in Kerala. This initiative becomes unique for its scale of operation across the state and the number of women generating income from waste management.

From Waste to Wealth: Haritha Karma Sena Model of Waste Management

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India report (2022-23) estimates that Kerala generates 3.70 million tonnes of solid waste yearly, with Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) contributing 2.17 million tonnes (59%) of that total. Both biodegradable and non-biodegradable trash make up 69% and 31% of the State’s total waste generation, respectively. The state policy on solid waste management in response to the guidelines of the Solid Waste Management Rules – 2016 entrusted the ‘Green Task Force’, aka Haritha Karma Sena (HKS), with the task of waste management in every local self-government bodies in Kerala. Haritha Karma Sena is ‘a trained team of women entrepreneurs who provide technical services and solutions on waste management projects’ and are responsible for collection, transportation, processing, disposal, and management of waste in collaboration with the respective LSGs. These women entrepreneurs are essentially members of Kudumbashree, collectively forming a Micro Enterprise (ME) known as Haritha Karma Sena (HKS) units. As of January 2024, HKS has employed 35,532 women across 1,034 local bodies in Kerala, significantly impacting the livelihood landscape, particularly in rural Kerala, while also benefiting the urban.

The major sources of income for HKS include user fees collected from households, businesses and other institutions, and revenue from the sale of non-biodegradable waste. Additionally, the state government provides a viability gap fund to support wage stability. This revenue model of HKS ensures sustainability of the waste management initiatives along with offering consistent income to its workers.

HKS collects waste from across the state at a minimum user fee of Rs.50 for households and Rs.100 for establishments as per the plastic bylaw of local bodies. The collected waste is sent to Mini Collection Facilities, where it is segregated and handed over to the Clean Kerala Company (or any agency) as entrusted by the respective local government. The state government along with local governments consistently monitors the levying of user fee and takes appropriate measures to reach 100 percent of its collection.

HKS units recognised the value of segregated plastics based on their grades and have begun segregating them and increasing the revenue. The segregated plastic collected increased from 4,414.8 metric tons in 2021-22 to 13,090.3 metric tons in 2023-24. As per estimates of the Clean Kerala company, HKS has shown a record increase in earnings, Rs 10 crores in the year 2023-24, from Rs 2.3 crores in 2021-22.

HKS is exploring new ways to diversify their income through small-scale recycling plants within local bodies, partnerships with industries for the sale of high-value plastic directly, extended producer responsibility (EPR) collaboration and plastic upcycling into products like floor tiles, paver blocks, etc. These initiatives will increase earnings for HKS members and make waste management more economically and environmentally sustainable.

Policy Implications from Kerala’s HKS Initiative

Through a trained team of women entrepreneurs,the Haritha Karma Sena has transformed waste management into a professional service, ensuring higher standards in waste handling and redefining public perceptions of waste management. It is a revolutionary shift from traditional sanitation models to an inclusive, decentralised, and community-driven model. The HKS model provides learnings that have policy implications.

Institutionalising Community-Led Waste Management: Between 1.5 and 4 million people work as informal waste pickers in India, recovering, sorting, and selling recyclable and reusable solid waste from landfills, material recovery facilities, and streets. With an anticipated yearly growth rate of 7%, the waste management industry in India is forecast to be valued at over $14 billion by 2025.With the growth in the commercial waste management market, jobs that traditional waste pickers have performed in silence for many years will be eliminated, thereby marginalising them further. Mechanisms like Haritha Karma Sena (HKS) that are institutionalised through policies can ensure fair wages, social security benefits, and structured upskilling, transforming the informal waste worker groups to professional service providers. Such interventions could not only improve efficiency and accountability of waste management but also enhance the dignity and economic stability of its workers.

Diversifying Revenue Sources for Sustainability: The financial viability of waste management systems determines its long-term sustainability. While waste has significant revenue potential, many waste management programs are still heavily dependent on government funding. Activities like plastic segregation, upcycling, and composting, can reduce dependence on government funding and make the system sustainable. A financially stable model strengthens the waste management system and attracts more individuals to view waste management as a viable and dignified livelihood option.

Conclusion

Kerala’s Haritha Karma Sena provides a model worth emulating as governments scramble everywhere for innovative solutions to the escalating waste crisis. The model not only scales well but also guarantee long-term success by combining economic sustainability, through multichannel revenue sourcing, with a strong sense of ownership among the community. It is a powerful illustration of how locally driven, inclusive alternatives may take the lead in resolving not just environmental issues but any pressing socio-economic concern.