Sambalpur: Sambalpur Municipal Corporation Earns Rs. 3 Lakh Monthly from Waste Recycling and Compost Sales
Monthly Earnings from Waste Disposal
Sambalpur: Sambalpur Municipal Corporation (SMC) earns Rs. 2-3 lakh per month by recycling discarded waste. The horticulture and forest departments are the main customers, purchasing compost on a regular basis from SMC. Monika Monali Mansingh, a solid waste management expert at SMC, added that open market sales generate additional income.
Daily Waste Collection and Compost Production
SMC (Sambalpur Municipal Corporation) collects about 196 metric tons of waste every day, with wet waste making up 60% (117 metric tons). The corporation produces around 9.4 metric tons of compost from this wet waste. Workers prepare this compost at centers located in Balibandha, Chaunrpur, Kainsir, Rasanpur, Khandual, Burla, and Silipathar. Women drive 100 out of the 188 trucks that collect and transport waste to these processing centers.
Though residents should separate wet and dry waste, collectors sometimes mix them during collection. SMC workers manually sort through the waste at these centers to separate recyclable materials for composting.
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Compost Sales and Distribution
The compost is distributed and sold under a contract with a SHG. Horticulture and forest departments use this compost for agriculture and plant cultivation. Since 2021, the departments have been buying it from SMC. Monthly sales volumes fluctuate, with some months experiencing greater demand than others. For example, last month, the forest department purchased approximately 39 metric tons, while the horticulture department purchased 25 metric tons. Open market sales generate additional revenue for SMC.
Pricing and Market Impact
Previously, compost was sold at Rs. 20 per kg, which limited its appeal. However, the price was recently reduced to Rs. 10 per kg, leading to increased sales of 100-150 kg per month.
Recycling of Dry Waste and Accumulation at Dump Yard
From the collected waste, about 79 metric tons are dry waste. This includes materials like plastic and cardboard, which SMC sells to recycling businesses or sends to cement factories. However, over time, a significant amount of waste has accumulated at the dump yard located in A Katapali. Currently, around 1.8 lakh metric tons of waste are piled up at this location.
By managing waste effectively, SMC not only generates revenue but also helps reduce environmental pollution in Sambalpur.
