The Tea Board of India has issued a circular specifying the different purposes for which tea waste must be utilised by manufacturers. This circular was issued on January 15, 2024.
The Tea (Waste) Control Order, 1959 specifies the minimum volume of tea waste and made tea at the ratio of 2:100 kgs. This is applicable when the tea is processed out of tea leaves, buds and tender stems of Camellia Sinesis (L) O Kuntz. However, this came to revised, and presently the minimum percentage of tea waste generated stands at 0.2%.
The Tea Board acknowledges that generation of tea waste is directly proportional to production of quality tea. Hence, it has urged manufacturers to not limit its tea waste to the extent of the minimum stipulated percentage for the sake of declaration.
Presently, tea waste is utilised in the production of the following:
- instant tea
- bio-fertiliser
- caffeine
However, the Tea Board has decided that it will permit the use of tea waste only for production of instant tea or for export. All other tea waste must either be destroyed or composted by manufacturers.
The Tea Board will also sell tea waste through electronic auction. Therefore, all producers have been requested to offer the generated tea waste entirely through auction from April 1, 2024. Unsold waste must be destroyed or composted mandatorily.
