A closed waste management facility in Kochi

A material recovery facility near Perumbavoor that caught fire on Monday.

A major fire broke out at a waste management facility at Arackappady near Perumbavoor on Monday, triggering panic in the area. The fire engulfed tons of non-biodegradable waste, including plastic, leaving the residential area covered in thick smoke for hours. Although 16 people were working in the 20,000-square-foot facility when the fire broke out, no one was injured.

Fire and rescue units from various stations in Ernakulam district were still trying to douse the flames on Monday afternoon, according to the Pattimattom fire station officer.

The fire broke out at a material recovery facility of GreenEvotech, a waste management company in Kochi. Vengola grama panchayat authorities said the local body had issued a stop sign to the company following complaints from local residents. “Three months ago, a stop memorandum was issued, according to which the company was asked to close the facility by October 15. However, they have not moved any material from the facility so far,” said Anu Pathrose, a member of the Peruvian department where the facility is located. She said the facility is operated on leased land. “Local residents complained as the garbage collected by the society was piling up in the facility, prompting the panchayat to take action,” she said.

The company’s management, meanwhile, said they immediately responded to the stop memorandum and were preparing to relocate. “The facility was used to sort the waste materials collected by Haritha Karma Sena volunteers. The materials left in the ruins were all segregated and ready to be handed over to the recyclers. We suffered a huge loss in the fire as the product and machinery including a forklift and four packaging machines were gutted in the fire,” said Marketing Manager Shebeena Shaji.

She claimed that the fire was caused by a short circuit. “Our staff noticed the spark and tried to put out the flames with their own fire extinguishers. But the fire spread quickly,” she said.

Published – 12 October 2026 17:55 IST