Key facts
- Kerala’s Haritha Karma Sena collects segregated non-biodegradable waste door to door; reported user fees are ₹50 a month for households and ₹100 for commercial establishments.
- Edathala Grama Panchayat lists a waste-management section (Haritha Karma Sena, collection calendar, complaints) on its official website and a WhatsApp contact, +91 94960 45757.
- Illegal dumping can be reported with a photo or video on the state WhatsApp number 9446700800, introduced in September 2024; informants may get up to 25% of the fine, capped at ₹2,500.
- Spot fines for littering start at ₹5,000, and serious breaches such as dumping into water bodies can attract up to ₹50,000.
- In Kalamassery municipality, a report to the National Green Tribunal described bio-waste being collected on alternate days from wards and dry waste going to material collection facilities (MCF).
Which local body collects your waste
The answer depends on which side of the boundary you live. Parts of the NAD area fall under Edathala Grama Panchayat (Aluva taluk), while the town side falls under Kalamassery Municipality. Both run waste collection through the Haritha Karma Sena — teams of women, mostly from Kudumbashree, who collect segregated waste from homes and businesses. If you are not sure which body covers your building, ask your landlord or the hostel, or check your building-tax receipt.
New to the area? Our neighbourhood map and the Edathala guide explain where the boundaries roughly run, and the municipality guide covers other civic services.
Plastic and other dry waste
Keep plastic, paper, glass and metal clean, dry and separate from food waste. Wash milk covers and food containers before you put them aside — the Haritha Karma Sena can refuse dirty plastic, and wet plastic smells within days in Kerala humidity.
- Hand dry waste to the Haritha Karma Sena member on their round and pay the user fee; keep the receipt or the entry in the app if one is used.
- Do not burn plastic — it is banned and the smoke is toxic.
- Old electronics, batteries and bulbs are e-waste: ask the Haritha Karma Sena about separate e-waste drives rather than putting them in the dry bag.
- Kerala restricts many single-use plastic items; carry a cloth bag for shopping.
Food waste
Food waste is the part most likely to cause trouble: crows, stray dogs and mosquitoes. Never tip it into a drain, canal, vacant plot or the roadside — that is exactly what the fines below are for. Options, depending on where you live:
- Use the building’s compost bin or bio-bin if there is one (many houses and flats have pipe compost or ring compost units).
- Hand it over through the collection arrangement your local body or building has set up.
- Cook what you will eat — the cheapest waste is the waste you never make. Our hostel kitchen shopping list helps with quantities.
The routine we follow at Ashraf Gents Hostel
This is the house routine residents at Ashraf Gents Hostel on NAD Road are asked to follow. It reflects how collection has worked for us locally — it is not an official panchayat timetable, and days can change around holidays, so check with the Haritha Karma Sena member or the panchayat if you live elsewhere.
| Waste | When we hand it over | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic and dry waste | First week of each month | Clean, dry, bagged separately; user fee paid to the Haritha Karma Sena |
| Food waste | Every day, about 6–9 am and 5–7 pm | Kept in the closed bin until then — never left outside overnight |
| Sundays | No hand-over at the collection centre | Hold waste in the closed bin until Monday |
New residents get this explained on arrival. If you are considering a room, see rooms and rates or the daily room page — daily guests follow the same routine.
Who to contact
| For | Contact | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Edathala Grama Panchayat (waste, Haritha Karma Sena, complaints) | WhatsApp +91 94960 45757 · official website | Panchayat website |
| Reporting illegal dumping anywhere in Kerala | WhatsApp 9446700800 (photo/video with location) | Malinya Muktham Navakeralam |
| Kalamassery Municipality | See the municipality guide for the official site and office | Municipality website |
We only list numbers published by the panchayat or the state. If a number here stops working, use the official website — and tell us on WhatsApp so we can update the page.
Fines and rewards
Kerala tightened its laws in 2024. Local-body secretaries can impose a spot fine of ₹5,000 for littering or dumping, and serious breaches — such as dumping into water bodies — can draw fines up to ₹50,000, with imprisonment of up to a year possible under the amended Acts. The state reported that in the first year of its WhatsApp helpline, 755 verified cases led to fines of more than ₹61 lakh, and informants received rewards.
If you see someone dumping waste, send a clear photo or video with the place and time to 9446700800. If the fine is collected, you may be eligible for up to 25% of it, up to ₹2,500.
Moving out without leaving a mess
- Sell or give away usable items — see second-hand shopping.
- Put aside dry waste for the next Haritha Karma Sena round instead of leaving bags in the room.
- Hand over old phones and chargers as e-waste.
- Keep the last user-fee receipt with your papers.
More everyday tips are in 25 life hacks for Kalamassery and the monsoon guide, when waste and drains matter most.
Frequently asked questions
Who collects plastic waste in Edathala?
The Haritha Karma Sena of Edathala Grama Panchayat collects segregated dry waste door to door for a monthly user fee. Contact the panchayat on WhatsApp +91 94960 45757 or through its official website.
How much is the Haritha Karma Sena fee?
Reported fees are ₹50 a month for households and ₹100 a month for commercial establishments. Your local body confirms the current amount.
Where do I report waste dumping?
Send a photo or video with the location to the state WhatsApp number 9446700800. Informants can receive up to 25% of the fine collected, capped at ₹2,500.
What is the fine for throwing waste in public in Kerala?
Spot fines start at ₹5,000, and serious breaches such as dumping into water bodies can attract up to ₹50,000 under the 2024 amendments.
When should hostel residents put out food waste?
At Ashraf Gents Hostel, residents hand over food waste daily between about 6–9 am and 5–7 pm, with no hand-over on Sundays. This is the hostel’s own routine, not an official timetable.
Related guides
Sources
- Edathala Grama Panchayat — official website
- India CSR: Kerala fines ₹61 lakh for waste dumping via WhatsApp
- Onmanorama: Bill envisaging ₹5,000 spot fine for littering (Feb 2024)
- Onmanorama: User fee for plastic waste collection to be made mandatory
- National Green Tribunal: Kerala report on solid-waste management (Kalamassery)
- Wikipedia: Edathala
Facts about Ashraf Gents Hostel come from the hostel’s own profile and photos; rates are indicative and confirmed on the call. Last reviewed . How we write these guides: editorial notes. Map embeds © Google.