The co-composting of banknote waste paper with animal manure is a global initiative aimed at addressing the environmental issues associated with the disposal of these materials. Traditionally, banknote waste paper is shredded and incinerated, leading to pollution. Similarly, improper waste management of organic wastes such as municipal solid waste, cattle manure, and poultry manure contributes to the climate crisis and poses risks to human health.
Pakistan Security Printing Company (PSPC), as an environmentally conscious organization and a part of the State Bank of Pakistan, is committed to improving environmental hazards. On average, PSPC shreds 1-1.5 tons of waste paper per day. In line with its corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals and environmental concerns, PSPC initiated the Banknote Waste Paper Composting Project and within three months of its initiation, PSPC made several noteworthy conclusions:
- Printed banknote paper waste resulted in high-quality compost enriched with natural nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK), which are essential for soil replenishment.
- The treatment of sunflower seeds with 1% compost produced from banknote waste paper significantly increased plant height, the number of leaves, and root length.
- Physiochemical analysis confirmed that the compost had no adverse effects on the environment. The levels of heavy metals, Salmonella, and Fecal Coliform were within permissible limits set by international standards for good quality compost.
- Composting helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by limiting the production of gases like methane. In comparison to the burning process, the composting process generates 0.59 tons less CO2 per ton of banknote waste paper. Calculations show that composting produces only 0.87 tons of CO2 per ton of printed waste, whereas combustion/burning produces 1.46 tons of CO2 per ton of printed waste paper. As a result, PSPC has reduced its CO2 emissions by 320 tons annually through this technique.
- The high-quality compost generated from this process has a significant market demand, with an estimated net profit of $50-$70 per ton. Therefore, PSPC expects an annual profit ranging from $50,000 to $70,000.
In summary, the co-composting project undertaken by PSPC has proven to be an environmentally sustainable solution for banknote waste paper disposal, resulting in high-quality compost and significant reductions in CO2 emissions. Additionally, this initiative has the potential to generate substantial profits for PSPC due to the market demand for the compost.
The writer is Customs, Tariff and Trade Expert