Kashmir’s apple industry faces waste crisis as 25,000 tonnes rot annually

Kashmir’s high-value apple industry is grappling with an escalating waste crisis, as over 25,000 tonnes of rotting apples are generated annually from Controlled Atmosphere storage facilities.
| Photo Credit:
IMRAN NISSAR /The Hindu

Kashmir’s high-value apple industry is facing mounting environmental and regulatory pressure over the disposal of spoiled produce, as more than 25,000 tonnes of rotting apples pile up annually with no waste management plan in place.

Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storages across the Valley generate hundreds of tonnes of decayed apples each year. In the absence of designated disposal systems, operators routinely dump the waste in open areas—mainly in orchards and along riverbanks—raising concerns about pollution and public health risks.

The region has between 100 and 106 CA storage facilities located across various industrial zones, with a combined capacity of over 500,000 metric tonnes. Each year, around 5% of stored apples—largely C-grade fruit—deteriorate after six months of storage and turn into waste, operators said.

“This makes up to more than 25,000 tonnes annually, based on the existing storage capacity,” a CA operator told businessline.

Izhan Javed, spokesperson for the Jammu and Kashmir Fruit and Vegetable Processing and Integrated Cold Chain Association (JKPICCA), said storage operators have repeatedly requested the government to provide waste management infrastructure. “The installation of such a facility has been a long-standing demand,” he said.

The Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Board (JKPCB) has issued notices to several operators, requesting that they explain why legal action and environmental compensation should not be pursued for violating environmental regulations. The move followed complaints from residents and media reports about heaps of rotting apples dumped near rivers and open areas.

“Rotten apples can pose significant environmental hazards if not properly managed,” said Dr Sajad Mohd Wani, Professor and Chief Scientist of Food Science and Technology at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Kashmir.

He warned that improper disposal, especially near water bodies, could lead to eutrophication, a condition caused by the excessive accumulation of organic matter and nutrients in aquatic ecosystems. “Additionally, toxins like patulin and pesticide residues can contaminate water sources, making them potentially poisonous,” he added.

Although CA units are officially classified as green industries, experts say wastewater from these facilities, which may contain fungicide residues, is also contributing to groundwater pollution.

One environmentalist suggested that apple waste could be turned into a valuable resource if properly managed scientifically.

“Had a proper facility been in place, this waste could have been converted into compost, biogas, or even animal feed instead of being dumped,” he said.

Published on July 3, 2025