As India progresses towards sustainability and a circular economy, innovative methods of converting waste to wealth have gained momentum. A significant contributor to this movement is the effective management and recycling of floral waste, particularly from temples. This approach not only promotes environmental preservation but also generates substantial employment opportunities, especially for women.
Temple trusts and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) play a pivotal role in this transformation by implementing composting pits and engaging in recycling efforts. Outreach programmes aimed at educating priests and devotees about the adverse effects of dumping floral waste in rivers are crucial. The “Green Temples” concept, integrating eco-friendly practices, can be institutionalised to ensure temples become exemplars of sustainability. Additionally, promoting digital offerings or biodegradable materials over traditional flowers can significantly reduce floral waste. The National Horticulture Board could also be instrumental in tracking and managing floral waste in green spaces like parks.
The sector has seen remarkable growth, marked by its multifaceted benefits. Floral waste, primarily biodegradable, often ends up in landfills or water bodies, posing health hazards and damaging aquatic ecosystems. A UN Climate Change report highlights that the river Ganga alone absorbs over 8 million MT of floral waste annually. Under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0, Indian cities are introducing innovative solutions. Social entrepreneurs are recycling flowers into valuable products like organic compost, soaps, candles, and incense sticks.
For instance, the Ujjain’s Mahakaleshwar Temple, which receives 75,000 to 100,000 daily visitors, produces around 5-6 tonnes of waste daily. Specialised ‘Pushpanjali Econirmit’ vehicles collect this waste, processed at a 3TPD plant to create eco-friendly products. Sixteen women from the Shiv Arpan Self-Help Group are employed to convert this waste into high-quality items. Additionally, the waste is transformed into briquettes and compost for local farmers and biofuel. According to the Ujjain Smart City 2022 report, 2,200 tonnes of floral waste have been treated, and 30,250,000 sticks produced to date.
Similarly, Siddhivinayak Temple, with 40,000-50,000 daily visitors, offers 120-200 kg of floral waste daily. Mumbai-based ‘Adiv Pure Nature’ turns this waste into natural dyes for textiles. They collect floral waste thrice weekly, accounting for 1,000-1,500 kg, and artisans transform the dried flowers into natural dyes. Beyond marigold, rose, and hibiscus, coconut husks are used to create dyes and textured prints through steam.
Tirupati Municipal Corporation handles over 6 tonnes of floral waste daily, upcycling it into valuable products. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam Aggarbatti manufacturing plant, with a 15-ton capacity, employs 150 women from SHGs. Products are packaged using recycled and plantable paper embedded with Tulsi seeds.
Kanpur-based Phool collects nearly 21 MT of floral waste weekly across five prominent temple towns, converting it into items like incense sticks, cones, and ‘Fleather’, an alternative to animal leather. This innovation has garnered PETA’s best innovation award in the vegan world. Hyderabad-based startup ‘HolyWaste’ collects floral waste from 40 temples and other sources, recycling it into eco-friendly products like fertilizers, incense sticks, and soaps.
