Bhubaneswar: Every morning, thousands of coconuts arrive across Bhubaneswar. Carried by devotees to temples and roadside shrines, they are offered to deities as symbols of purity, gratitude and devotion. By afternoon, tender coconuts sold at roadside kiosks quench the thirst of office-goers, commuters and visitors seeking relief from the city’s heat.
But once the prayers are offered and the sweet water consumed, another story begins.
Bhubaneswar generates a substantial quantity of coconut waste every day from temples, households, juice stalls and public vending areas. Due to their high fibrous content, tender coconut shells and husks take a long time to decompose and cannot be composted in Micro Composting Centre (MCC) tubs. For years, heaps of discarded coconut waste accumulated across the city, clogging drains, littering public spaces and occupying valuable landfill space.
Yet, in a city where coconuts hold deep spiritual significance and are integral to temple rituals, pujas and daily offerings, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) sought to ensure that these sacred remnants did not end up as mere waste.
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