New policy to solve solid waste issue

Centre has kicked-off second generation reforms in fertilizer sector by framing a policy to produce compost from urban waste, which it believes would reduce chemical use and enrich soil. 

A cabinet note circulated by Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers offers incentives to manufacturers for producing compost and use municipal waste as manure in agro sector. 

India's total municipal waste based compost production potential is around 40 lakh tonne, given the roughly 600 to 650 lakh waste generated annually by the cities and towns. The country’s current installed capacity for compost production is around 10 lakh tonne while the consumption is around 1 lakh tonne.

Cities may have small-scale plants to produce compost, but incentives to manufacturers are vital to encourage firms to set up large-scale compost production units, a ministry official told Deccan Herald. 

Sources said the government is hoping to halve manure prices in three to five years as it boosts up production, while demand for manure is also soaring due to increase in organic farms. 

The way many chemical fertilizer companies include manure in their product list is a sign that compost production is fast becoming a serious business, the official said. 

Also, compost production would solve the issue of solid waste management, one of the greatest problems Indian cities are grappling with in recent times. 

Their struggles in managing waste are exacerbated by the financial crunch. The new policy would solve the urban waste crises and the predicament of chemical usage in agro sector at one stroke, noted another official.