Urbanisation causes generation of large quantities of waste materials, referred to as Municipal wastes, the disposal of which poses a serious challenge to city planners and administrators. The refuse collection phase is almost always the most expensive portion of the solid waste management programme because of equipment and labour requirements. The daily collection of Municipal Solid Wastes (MSW) in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala is carried out through community storage bins installed by the Corporation authorities. A large number of people - rag pickers and hawkers - are engaged in the collection of solid wastes in the city. A major portion of the solid waste generated is now being dumped into the backwaters near the Vellayani Agricultural College campus, contaminating one of the very few coastal freshwater lakes in the State. The main objective of the study was to survey the existing system of waste collection and recycling, and suggest ways for its formalisation/improvement. The activities included selection of major community and roadside dumps in the city to study the various aspects of waste generation, collection and recycling; assessing the quantum of segregation of the waste; studying the system of collection and transportation of the refuse; assessing the modes of handling the recyclable material; suggesting ways and means for improving the urban waste management techniques.

A comprehensive survey was conducted in all the 50 wards of the city to collect detailed information regarding primary and secondary collectors, recycling units and the quantity and characteristics of the waste generated. Volunteers were selected and given training to conduct the fieldwork. They were divided into groups and each group were to collect data from the wards. They were to cover major commercial centres, and interview hawkers and primary and secondary collectors. The study showed that there are over 500 persons engaged in the collection of waste materials in Thiruvananthapuram city. The average quantity of non-degradable waste collected in a week comes to about 75 tonnes, and most of it are reused or recycled. Organic wastes are left at the roadside dumps creating health problems and public nuisance. This degradable waste should be properly treated and disposed. The rag pickers who are doing a great service to the society shall be given adequate social security. Public awareness shall be created and enforcement measures taken up, so that public and roadside dumping of wastes will be reduced.