Corporation to sell organic manure to Horticulture Department

According to a Chennai Corporation official, the civic body has taken the decision as the compost facilities that it is running has started producing more compost. This, the official added, was because of more waste being composted due to better awareness among the residents.

“The MoU was signed recently and the modalities of implementing it are being charted out,” the official added. Although he refused to go into the details over the exact rates of the manure to be sold to Horticulture Department, the official said one kilogram of organic manure would be sold to the department at a cost of not more than Rs 3. “As we are supplying the organic manure to a government department, we could not see much profit from the project,” he added.

The Horticulture Department would use the manure provided by the Corporation for maintaining government-run nurseries, gardens and parks.

The Chennai Corporation had started the sale of organic manure to the public a few months ago to encourage the usage of the organic fertilisers in their lawns and gardens. Retail outlets were opened at Marina Beach, Perungudi and other areas to sell the manure produced in nearby zones. 

“Many people opt for our organic manure, as we are selling them at low cost of Rs 20 per packet. The production, meanwhile, increased due to growing awareness on source segregation and increase in the number of composting facilities,” the official explained.

Apart from organic manure, the Chennai Corporation has also been converting organic waste into biogas to be used for cooking at Amma Canteens in respective divisions.

According to Chennai Corporation data, of the total 5,500 tonnes of garbage (bio-degradable and non-degradable) is being generated in the city every day, 159.59 tonnes of organic waste is being sent for bio-methanation and composting. The civic body is operating 149 ordinary composting units and 3 vermicomposting units that handle 142.24 tonnes and 2.72 tonnes of organic waste respectively.