Utilization of Temple Waste for Making Incense Sticks with Environmental and Socioeconomic Aspect

Safe and environmentally balanced management of solid wastes becomes a major issue in many cities of developing nations. Huge production of solid wastes coupled with poor management system, results in a significant environmental degradation. In India most of the religious places huge tonnage of solid waste is generated during worships, ceremonies and festivals. The quantity of flower waste generated by Sant Tukaram Maharaj temple Dehugaon was assessed. Majority of flowers offered in temple are rose, jasmine, marigold, hibiscus, etc. These waste flowers can be utilized to produce valuable products and thus can help to save environment. Indian Ayurvedic medical system has provided the process of making incense sticks without use of salt peter, or even charcoal. This paper represent that the flower waste can be used for making eco-friendly incense sticks and also to step towards healthy India and environment. The process includes making incense sticks using flower which is 100% organic and chemical free. This technology involves lot of human force, which providing a lot of employment to rural women and this has helped them to earn their living. After conducting the air testing it is found that flower incense sticks do not contain the smoke such as particulate matter and volatile compounds such as benzene, toluene and xylenes which contains in normal charcoal incense sticks which cause pollution. After completion of project, it was observed that it is the pollution free incense sticks and do not give any side effect to human.