Temple Flower Waste: From Stink to Fragrance

Thousands of devotees arrive at the Mahalakaleshwar Temple in the pilgrim town of Ujjain as dawn breaks, offering vibrant flowers. These flowers frequently suffer the terrible destiny of being thrown into rivers or disposed of in landfills. Although many people might believe that a little handful of flowers wouldn't do much harm, Phool.co's head of research and development, Nachiket Kuntla, presents an alternative viewpoint. "What harm can a handful of flowers cause when someone throws them into the river? However, consider the impact—we are a nation of over a billion people."

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs claims that Kuntla's remarks are in line with the mission of the Swabhav Swachhata Sanskaar Swachhata (4S) campaign, which was launched to commemorate the Swachh Bharat Mission's 10^th anniversary. The campaign, which runs from September 17 to October 2, 2024, aligns with Swachh Bharat Diwas on the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's birth and is in line with the yearly Swachhata Hi Seva tradition. The program promotes sustainability by concentrating on recycling floral waste from temples throughout India, transforming what was once discarded into valuable resources.

Returning to Ujjain, the Mahalakaleshwar Temple produces 5–6 tonnes of flower debris every day from its 75,000–100,000 daily visitors. The temple responded to this by introducing the 'Pushpanjali Econirmit' vans, which collect and transport flower waste to a processing plant that can handle three tons of waste per day. The waste is transformed into organic products like compost, briquettes, and biofuels. Women from the Shiv Arpan Self-Help Group (SHG) have taken the lead, crafting over 30 million incense sticks and other eco-friendly items. Their efforts have not only helped reduce the temple’s environmental footprint but have also provided stable employment opportunities for many.

In Mumbai, the Siddhivinayak Temple faces a similar challenge with its 40,000 to 100,000 daily devotees. Floral offerings here range from 120 to 200 kilograms per day, which prompted 'Adiv Pure Nature,' a sustainable design house, to collaborate with the temple. They collect the waste thrice weekly, transforming it into natural dyes for textiles like scarves, garments, and linens. Utilizing a range of materials, from marigolds to coconut husks, this initiative showcases how temple waste can fuel artistic and ecological ventures.

Kanpur-based Phool.co, a trailblazer in the temple waste recycling space, collects approximately 21 tonnes of floral waste each week across major cities like Ayodhya, Varanasi, Bodh Gaya, and Badrinath. The company turns this waste into incense products and has also developed an innovative leather alternative, ‘Fleather,’ earning accolades such as PETA's Best Innovation Award.

Phool.co's operations not only combat waste but also offer secure livelihoods to women who receive benefits such as healthcare, transportation, and provident funds. In Hyderabad, HolyWaste is revamping the floral waste cycle through ‘Florjuvination,’ a process that turns flowers into soaps, incense sticks, and fertilizers. By collecting waste from 40 temples and market areas, the startup ensures that over 1,000 kilograms of floral waste per week doesn’t end up polluting water bodies or landfills.

Closer to the capital, Poonam Sehrawat's Delhi-based startup, Aaruhi, processes over 1,000 kilograms of floral waste from 15 temples monthly. Sehrawat’s venture has trained more than 3,000 women to create eco-friendly products, generating significant income and fostering community development. The story of India's floral waste revolution is a powerful testament to the impact of collaboration. Across the country, cities, startups, and self-help groups are joining forces to create a cleaner, more sustainable future.

The benefits are multifaceted—waste is diverted from landfills and waterways, creating a healthier environment, while women gain meaningful employment through these initiatives. At the same time, innovation thrives, giving discarded flowers a new lease on life. From Ujjain’s Mahalakaleshwar Temple to Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak, the recycling of floral waste is not just an environmental necessity, but a testament to the power of collective effort. These projects are transforming temple waste into valuable resources, creating jobs and fostering ecological balance.

As India continues its journey towards sustainability, campaigns like Swabhav Swachhata Sanskaar Swachhata (4S) are accelerating this mission. Together, the country is taking meaningful strides towards a cleaner, greener future—one flower at a time.

(Source: PIB)