In yet another innovative step towards sustainable urban waste management, the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), under the leadership of Commissioner Dr. Devansh Yadav, has launched a pioneering initiative to recycle discarded green coconut shells into water retention cocopeat for use in municipal parks and gardens.
Everyday hundreds of tender coconuts are sold across Jammu, leaving behind large quantities of shells that often end up in open spaces, drains and garbage dumps, adding to the city’s solid waste burden.
Recognising the immense potential of this biodegradable waste, JMC has initiated its scientific processing at a unit established at Bagwati Nagar to produce cocopeat, a natural growing medium known for improving soil structure, retaining moisture and promoting healthy plant growth.
While interacting with media about the new initiative, Dr. Devansh Yadav, said “The cocopeat generated through the project will be utilised for landscaping, flower beds, nurseries and the maintenance of parks and green belts maintained by the Corporation.
The initiative is also expected to reduce the volume of waste reaching disposal sites while lowering the expenditure on horticultural inputs, added Dr. Yadav.
Further Highlighting the significance of the project, Dr. Devansh Yadav said the initiative is a step towards building a circular economy where waste is treated as a valuable resource rather than discarded.
He informed that all green coconut vendors operating within the JMC limits will be registered to ensure the systematic collection and scientific recycling of discarded coconut shells. The organised network, he said, will enable efficient waste segregation at the source and ensure a regular supply of raw material for cocopeat production.
This initiative will not only strengthen the Corporation’s solid waste management system but also contribute to environmental conservation by reducing landfill waste and promoting the reuse of biodegradable materials-Dr. Devansh Yadav, Commissioner JMC.
He expressed confidence that the project would serve as a model for other urban local bodies seeking sustainable and cost-effective waste management solutions.
With this eco-friendly intervention, JMC has added another milestone to its growing list of sustainable civic reforms, reaffirming its commitment to cleaner surroundings, resource recovery and greener public spaces.