Government offers Rs 1,500 per tonne assistance on city compost sale

NEW DELHI: Government today approved assistance of Rs 1,500 per tonne on sale of compost made from municipal solid waste, which can be used as organic fertiliser by farmers.

"The Cabinet has approved assistance of Rs 1,500 per tonne on sale of city compost which can be used as organic fertiliser by farmers," Union Fertiliser Minister Ananth Kumar told reporters.

The market development assistance is expected to lower the retail price for farmers.

At present, the city compost is being sold at Rs 5,500 per tonne, with ILFS and Kribhco among key players in this space.

City compost, Kumar said, is rich in nutrients and the decision is in line with Swach Bharat Abhiyaan of the government.

The compost from city garbage not just provides carbon and primary or secondary nutrients to soil, but helps keep the city clean.

City compost will also be standardized with the eco-mark to ensure environment-friendly quality product reaches the farmer, a release said here. Fertiliser companies and marketing entities will be asked to co-market the soil nutrient with chemical fertilisers through dealers' network.

To start with, marketing and promotion of city compost are proposed to be done through the existing fertiliser companies.

In due course, compost manufacturers and other marketing entities recognised by the state governments may also be included for the purpose with the approval of the Department of Fertilisers.

The companies will adopt villages for promoting the use of compost as well. Government departments and PSUs are also expected to use city compost for horticulture and related activities.

India produces around 62 million tonnes of urban waste annually, but most of it is not recycled. At present, annually about 1.5 lakh tonnes of compost from such waste are made with a potential of 50 lakh tonnes.

The decision follows the Supreme Court's order in 2004, in which it had directed the Centre and states to prepare an action plan for management of municipal solid waste in cities.