Thiruvananthapuram: The government expects an annual revenue of Rs 1000 crore through the treatment of e-waste (electronic waste) in the state.

A treatment plan for managing e-waste is being implemented soon with the help of Hyderabad-based Centre for Materials for Electronic Technology (C-MET). Centres will be set up in three regions namely South Region, Central Region and Malabar to sort e-waste. 

Clean Kerala company is setting up an e-waste recycling plant at Kuttipuram in Malappuram district. The company will bear the cost of Rs 9 crore to set up the plant. C-MET will provide the required technological assistance to carry out activities including sorting and recycling.

After taking the expenditure costs from the revenue received, the rest will be distributed to the Haritha Karma Sena that collects the waste and Kudumbasree which sorts it.

Earlier, the government had said that priority will be given to generate employment and income by treating all types of waste in a public-private partnership. Minister M.B Rajesh said that a revenue of Rs 1000 crore is expected from this. 

Kudumbasree is responsible for separating and collecting the valuable materials from the waste. C-MET will impart the required training to do this. As per records, over 300 tonnes of e-waste is collected from Kerala on an annual basis. These are sorted and sold to organizations approved by Central and State pollution boards. Instead, the public affairs department has prepared a plan to generate income by recycling within the state itself.