§1What this business is

Flower waste from temples and ghats is sorted from thread and plastic, dried in a dehydrator, shredded, mixed with sawdust and a composting culture in a ribbon blender, and composted in a flower-waste composting machine for 20–25 days. The compost is then packed and sold.

§2Is it right for you?

Who it is for

Someone in a temple town who can sign collection agreements with temple trusts.

Who it is not for

Someone without a reliable flower supply or a buyer for compost.

Advantages

  • Turns temple waste that pollutes rivers into a useful product
  • Flower waste is plentiful near big temples and ghats
  • Compost cuts the need for chemical fertiliser
  • A good story for temple trusts and city bodies to back

Drawbacks

  • Daily collection needs vehicles and tie-ups
  • Sorting out thread and plastic is manual work
  • Composting takes 20–25 days and ties up space
  • Farmers compare price with cheap farmyard manure

Skills you need

  • Collection logistics
  • Composting process control
  • Packing and branding
  • Selling to nurseries and farmers

Why difficulty 3/5: Needs a daily flower supply chain and careful process control.

§3Market

Who buys

  • Home gardeners
  • Nurseries and landscapers
  • Farmers

How it sells

  • Nurseries and garden shops
  • Agri-input dealers
  • Online sales

Good to know

  • The report says the composting cycle takes 20 to 25 days.

§4Raw material & machinery

ItemQtyCost
Dehydrator machine1₹1,00,000
Shredding machine1₹3,51,000
Ribbon blender1₹76,000
Organic waste compost machine1₹4,50,000
Packaging machine1₹2,70,000

From: PMEGP sample project report — Flowers Recycled to Compost (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)

  • Floral wastefrom temples and ghats — rose, marigold, jasmine, hibiscus and others
  • Sawdusthelps generate heat and absorb moisture
  • Composting culture (mesophilic bacteria)works at 20–45 °C
  • Packaging materiallisted in the report

From: PMEGP sample project report — Flowers Recycled to Compost (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)

§5Licences & registration

  1. Udyam registration
  2. GST registration
  3. Fire NOC
  4. Trade licence from the local body
  5. Factory licence (depends on workers and power)
  6. Trademark for your brand (optional)
  7. Authorisation under the Fertiliser Control Order to sell compost as manure

We can do this registration for you

§6Schemes & subsidies

Built for PMEGP; at ₹17.55 L it also fits MUDRA, CGTMSE and Stand-Up India.

§7Money

How the investment is worked out: Plant & machinery ₹12.47 L + other assets ₹0.50 L + working capital ₹4.58 L = ₹17.55 L; premises rented (₹25,000 a month assumed). Finance: own ₹1.75 L, term loan ₹11.67 L, working-capital loan ₹4.12 L.

Working capital: Working capital ₹4.58 L (bank ₹4.12 L); raw material ₹39.60 L in year 1.

Year not printed on the report — check current machinery prices.

How to prepare a loan file

§8Export potential

Confirm the HS code in the DGFT ITC(HS) lookup before you export

3101.00Animal or vegetable fertilisers, including those made by mixing or treating such products

Export council / board: DGFT

  • HS codes are from the WCO HS 2022 list; confirm the 8-digit ITC(HS) line with DGFT or your customs broker.
  • You need an Import Export Code (IEC) from DGFT before the first shipment.

§9Risks — where people fail

  • Loss of a temple supply agreement
  • Smell and moisture problems
  • Compost quality failing norms
  • Seasonal demand from farmers

§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan

A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.

  1. Days 1–30: Visit a working temple flower waste compost unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
  2. Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Udyam registration, GST registration), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
  3. Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.

§11Who to connect with

Not verified yet

Associations, clusters and training institutes — the directory is being built. Connect

§12Watch

There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.

Want to start Temple Flower Waste Compost?

DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.

Get a DPR / loan file made

Sources

  1. PMEGP sample project report — Flowers Recycled to Compost (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)

Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.