Composting Municipal Solid Waste: the Indian scenario

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.