Composting: Challenges and Solutions

Abstract

Rapid urbanization has indeed focused the stress on Municipal Solid Waste management, due to poor resources and inadequate capacity. Composting is a vital component of solid waste management, as it enables the conversion of organic waste into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. However, in many cities and towns, treatment of solid waste management issues is limited to composting in a few cities. To address this gap, there is a need to promote and encourage the adoption of composting as a mainstream of management practice in the country, same has been emphasized by Hon’ble PM in 9th, 24th, 73rd and 90th episode on Mann Ki Baat. According to the Central Pollution Control Board Annual report, India generates a total of 160038.9 TPD of solid waste, out of which 152749.5 TPD of waste is collected at a collection efficiency of 95.4% in which 50% of the waste is treated, 18.4% is landfilled, and 31.6% of the waste remains unaccounted. The increasing trend in the percentage of solid waste processed during the last five years, which has increased from 19% in 2015-16 to 49.96% in 2020-21. Additionally, a decreasing trend in solid waste landfilled during the last six years, which has decreased from 54% in 2015-16 to 18.4% in 2020-21. This paper highlights the importance of composting technologies in solid waste management. The paper provides a detailed analysis of various composting technologies available in India that can convert organic waste into compost for use as fertilizer or manure. Case studies of Pit, Mechanical, and Windrows Technology are presented in the paper. Overall, the paper stresses the importance of composting technologies to produce the high quality compost for using as Fertilizer in achieving a circular economy and promoting waste to wealth in India.