Auditing of existing waste management facility at Nellikode MCF, Kozhikode corporation at PROVIDENCE WOMEN'S COLLEGE


Report on Visit to Kozhikode Municipal Corporation [M.R.F] on 10/01/2025

 

The Material Recovery Facility (M.R.F) of the Kozhikode Municipal Corporation is located in Nellikode, Kozhikode district, at coordinates 11.2552° N, 75.8181° E. Situated in ward number 23, Nellikode, the facility spans approximately 4,000 sq. ft. with a height of 10 to 15 feet, and is housed in a sheet roofed building. The M.R.F is equipped with various machines for waste management, including a weighing machine, conveyor belt, and plastic baling machine (Fig.1)

Waste Collection and Processing

Waste is collected from households, businesses, and other locations by Haritha Karma Sena members or collection vehicles. At the M.R.F, the waste is sorted into different categories. Materials move along a conveyor belt where workers manually remove contaminants and non-recyclable items.

  • Weighing Machine: Ensures accurate measurement of incoming and outgoing waste.
  • Plastic Baling Machine: Compresses plastic waste into compact bales, facilitating sorting, storage, and transport (Fig. 2).

Inorganic waste is segregated into distinct categories:

  1. Polypropylene (PP)
  2. High Molecular High-Density Polyethylene (HM)
  3. Low-Density Polypropylene (LD)
  4. Multilayered Plastic (MLP)

Safety and Security Measures

The facility is equipped with safety provisions, including four fire extinguishers, a water tank, and buckets filled with sand.

Digital and Record Maintenance

The Haritha Kerala Mission has introduced the Haritha Mithra app to monitor solid waste management activities. However, workers reported interruptions in the app's functionality.

Registers are well-maintained at the facility:

  • Log Book 1: Records details of incoming waste.
  • Log Book 2: Logs details of outgoing waste.
  • Segregation Register: Details the nature of inorganic waste collected.
  • Attendance Register: Maintains workers' attendance.

The local health inspector, Ms. Bibi K. S., oversees the maintenance of these records.

Worker Facilities

The M.R.F provides restrooms, a dining area, and washrooms for Haritha Karma Sena members. There is also adequate space for large lorries to manoeuvre for waste delivery and transportation. Workers use gloves, masks, and boots to handle waste safely.

Observations and Suggestions

Strengths:

  • Proper maintenance of registers ensures transparency in waste management.
  • Detailed records of waste types, vehicle numbers, and weights enhance accountability.

Shortcomings:

  • Work processes were observed to be inconsistent and require improvement.

Recommendations for Improvement:

  1. Maintain and repair the conveyor belt for efficient waste sorting.
  2. Enhance workforce engagement and training to ensure consistent performance.

 

 

                          

         

                         

 

 

 


Programme Expenditure

Sl Particulars Amount
1 Travel 500
Total 500

Programme Photos
Report of the programme  Download