 "Compostable waste bag made from BASF’s ecovio")
The cabinet gave its approval for a policy on promotion of city compost on January 20, 2016. Under the policy, a provision has been made for market development assistance of Rs 1500 per tonne of city compost for scaling up production and consumption of the product. Market development assistance is expected to lower the prices of city compost for farmers. Compost from city garbage would not only provide carbon and primary/secondary nutrients to soil but also help in keeping the city clean. Eco-Mark standard for city compost would ensure that environment friendly quality product reaches the farmers.
Composting can reduce the volume of waste to landfill/dumpsite by converting the waste into useful by-products. This also prevents production of harmful greenhouse gases (especially methane) and toxic material that pollutes groundwater apart from polluting the environment.
Fertiliser companies and marketing entities will co-market city compost with chemical fertilisers through their dealers’ network. The companies will also adopt villages for promoting the use of compost.
A joint mechanism will be set up by Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Urban Development and Department of Agriculture to monitor and facilitate availability of adequate quantity of city compost at terms mutually agreeable between compost manufacturers and fertiliser marketing companies.
Initially, marketing and promotion of city compost is proposed to be done through the existing fertiliser companies. In due course, compost manufacturers and other marketing entities recognised by the concerned state government may also be included for the purpose with the approval of Department of Fertilisers. The market development assistance will be routed through the entity which is marketing it.
