Banknote wastepaper, a global concern, is typically shredded and incinerated, leading to pollution and environmental damage. Simultaneously, inadequate management of organic waste, including municipal solid waste, cattle manure, and poultry manure, contributes to the climate crisis and poses risks to human health. As a socially responsible organization, PSPC is committed to environmental improvement. Shredding an average of 1-1.5 tons of wastepaper daily, PSPC, in collaboration with the State Bank of Pakistan, launched the Banknote Wastepaper Composting Project in July 2020 to fulfill CSR goals and promote environmental care. Remarkably, within just three months of initiation, the project yielded several promising outcomes:
- Printed banknote paper waste transformed into high-quality compost enriched with essential nutrients, such as Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium (NPK), which are vital for soil replenishment.
- Treatment of sunflower seeds with 1% compost derived from banknote wastepaper resulted in significant improvements in plant height, leaf count, and root length, demonstrating the efficacy of the compost as a growth enhancer.
- Thorough physiochemical analysis confirmed that the compost generated no adverse environmental effects. The compost met international standards for excellent quality, exhibiting permissible levels of heavy metals, Salmonella, and Fecal Coliform.
- Composting plays a pivotal role in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, particularly by reducing methane production. In fact, the composting process generates 0.59 tons less CO2 per ton of banknote wastepaper compared to the burning process. Calculations indicate that composting produces only 0.87 tons of CO2 per ton of printed wastepaper, whereas combustion generates 1.46 tons of CO2 per ton. Consequently, PSPC’s adoption of composting techniques has resulted in a reduction of 320 tons of CO2 emissions annually.
- The production of high-quality compost has generated significant market demand, which is expected to yield a net profit ranging from $50 to $70 per ton. For PSPC, this translates to an annual profit between $50,000 and $70,000.
By embracing the co-composting of banknote wastepaper with animal manure, PSPC has demonstrated its commitment to sustainable practices, environmental preservation, and financial viability. This innovative approach showcases the potential for organizations to transform waste into valuable resources, contributing to a greener future while reaping economic benefits.
The writer is Customs, Tariff and Trade Expert