Title: Composting Municipal Solid Waste: the Indian scenario

Authors: N.B. Mazumdar

Addresses: IL&FS Ecosmart Ltd. (Infrastructure Leasing and Financial services), New Delhi, India The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi, India

Abstract: Composting of municipal solid waste is an emerging area in India with great prospects as well as constraints. These developments can be examined from the waste management, agricultural and climate change scenario. The technology is simple and affordable, the product is beneficial for soil and significant saving of land (required for land-filling) is achieved. However, public-private partnership efforts are constrained due to quality requirements, marketing and pricing issues. This paper assesses the current scenario in the light of past developments, its role and potential in the Indian context and ways to make it sustainable on a long-term basis.

Keywords: composting; municipal solid waste; MSW; resource recovery; soil amendment; landfill space saving; techno-economic viability; IRR; marketing; India; co-warehousing; co-marketing; solid waste compost.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETM.2007.015150

International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management, 2007 Vol.7 No.3/4, pp.326 - 350

Published online: 18 Sep 2007 *

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