Wayanad aims to become country’s first e-waste-free model district by November 1

Image for representational purposes only Wayanad aims to become the country’s first e-waste-free model district by November 1, 2026. The campaign has entered its second phase, focussing on collecting electronic waste from households and private establishments, following the collection of 31 tonnes from government offices across the district.Addressing the media in Kalpetta on Saturday (October 10), Agriculture Minister T. Siddique said the campaign was a step towards making the district waste-free and promoting scientific waste management. The second phase will be implemented with the support of local self-government institutions, elected representatives, and Haritha Karma Sena members.E-waste will be collected through special counters at the ward level and door-to-door drives before being handed over to agencies contracted by local bodies for scientific processing and disposal. People will receive compensation at rates fixed by the government for the waste they hand over.Mr. Siddique said the participation of every household and private establishment was essential to achieving the target by November 1, Keralam Formation Day. “If we complete the e-waste-free campaign, Wayanad will be the first district in the country to achieve this goal and will set an example for others to follow,” Mr. Siddique added.K. Anoop, programme officer, Suchitwa Mission, Wayanad, said e-waste required urgent attention as it contained hazardous substances such as lead, mercury, and cadmium that could threaten human health and the environment if improperly disposed of.Various government departments and organisations are supporting the campaign. The collected waste will be segregated into different categories and handed over to contracted agencies for scientific processing, Mr. Anoop said.The first phase of the campaign, conducted from September 28 to 30, 2026, focused on removing accumulated e-waste from government offices.Kalpetta and Sultan Bathery accounted for 12 tonnes each, while five tonnes were collected from Mananthavady and two tonnes from Panamaram. The collected e-waste was handed over to the Clean Kerala Company for scientific processing and disposal.Wayanad has previously developed waste management practices, including a protocol for managing waste in disaster-affected areas based on the district’s experience during the Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslide disaster.The e-waste-free initiative is expected to improve environmental safety for residents, particularly children, while strengthening the district’s image as a tourist destination, the officials said.District Planning Officer Kalamusheen was present. Published - October 10, 2026 07:07 pm IST