By M. Suchitra & C. Surendranath

In March 2023, a fire broke out in the legacy waste mounds at Kochi’s Brahmapuram plant, burning for 12 consecutive days and shrouding the city in hazardous smoke. Fuelled by nearly 800,000 tonnes of accumulated waste, the incident laid bare the deep-rooted structural flaws in municipal solid waste management – both in Kerala and across India.

This report investigates the systemic failures, governance gaps and environmental risks revealed by the Brahmapuram disaster. Drawing on field insights and data, the authors unpack the larger implications for urban waste practices across the state. The report also outlines actionable recommendations – ranging from policy and institutional reforms to decentralised and community-led solutions – to help reimagine a cleaner, safer and more resilient waste management future.