Turning Tea Waste into Soil Gold
A sustainability initiative "The Mulchproject" aimed at transforming tea estate waste into eco-friendly soil mulch for healthier plants and a cleaner planet.
About Mulch
How a Summer Internship Sparked a Movement
The Problem
During my internship at a tea estate, I saw piles of waste tea leaves every day all headed to landfills. That sight became the seed for Mulch, a way to give this waste a new purpose.
India’s tea industry generates over 1 million tons of organic waste every year.
Much of it ends up burned or dumped, contributing to greenhouse emissions, soil degradation, and fertilizer overuse
What’s at Stake
- Loss of nutrient-rich organic matter
- Rising soil acidity and erosion
- Dependence on synthetic fertilizers harming biodiversity
Collection
Tea waste is sourced from estates post-processing
How Mulch Works
Processing
Shredded, dried, and stabilized under natural conditions
Blending
Combined with sawdust and green matter to balance carbon-nitrogen ratios
Packaging
Packed in biodegradable, compostable bags
Before & After
- Dry, compacted soil → Looser, richer soil structure
- 30% less fertilizer use after three months
- 40% better soil moisture retention
- 500+ kg of tea waste repurposed so far
Impact
What Changed
- Healthier soil and stronger root systems
- Reduced chemical dependency
- Lower operational waste for estates
Voices from the Field
Estate Manager
“Our soil recovered faster and required less watering.”
Customer
“Mulch made it easier to manage waste sustainably without new costs.”
Worker
“It felt good to see waste from our fields helping them grow again.”
