The Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) on January 25, 2025, issued clarifications on distance criteria and need for authorisation/consent for Solid Waste Processing Facilities other than ‘integrated facilities (with processing and disposal including landfill)’.
The following have been stated:
• The distance criteria of all solid waste processing facilities other than integrated facilities having a capacity of 5 TPD or lower, shall be generally based on the category and scale of the unit; Circular No. PCB/TAC/18/2004 dated August 09, 2004, will be applicable. For specific cases, special distance criteria, if any fixed, will be applicable.
• Adequate pollution control measures including those for odour control, leachate treatment etc. shall be provided as per the requirement.
• Solid waste management facilities which are categorised by the Board need to obtain Consent to Establish and Operate only if the capacity of the plant exceeds 5 TPD. For White category processing facilities consent is not required One common authorisation under Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 shall be obtained for all solid waste management facilities (storage, processing) in a local body. The Authorization fee (for a period of 5 years) being Rs. 10,000, Rs. 20,000 & Rs. 30,000 respectively for grama panchayat, municipality & corporation.
• The categorization of compressed biogas plants shall be as per the letter no. CPCB/IPC-VI/ROGW6686-6730 dated September 22, 2021 and "Environmental Guidelines for Compressed Biogas Plant (CBG)/Bio-CNG Plants" dated March 2022 issued by CPCB.
• Compliance of this distance criteria is not mandatory for all solid waste processing facilities (standalone as well as those attached to an institution) which were established before November 07, 2022.
[Circular No. KSPCB/1249/2024-SEE-1]
