Plastic Recycling Units in Bhopal Pose Grave Public Health Risk; NGT Issues Sweeping Directions on Multi-Layered Plastic and Microplastics
Pranav B Prem
Taking suo motu cognisance of a newspaper report highlighting rampant illegal plastic recycling activities and the grave health risks faced by residents in Bhopal, the National Green Tribunal, Central Zone Bench at Bhopal, has issued a series of stringent directions to the Madhya Pradesh Government, pollution control authorities, and municipal bodies to enforce plastic waste management laws and address the growing threat of multi-layered plastic (MLP) and microplastics.
The order was passed by a Bench comprising Justice Sheo Kumar Singh, Judicial Member, and Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi, Expert Member. The Tribunal acted on a local daily’s report which exposed large-scale illegal plastic recycling units operating within residential areas, posing serious health hazards to nearly two lakh people living in the surrounding localities.
The Bench noted that more than 50 plastic recycling factories were functioning illegally in the city’s “junkyard” area, where narrow lanes were filled with heaps of plastic waste. Machines used for converting plastic waste into granules were reportedly operating openly, with the processed material being transported to industrial areas across Madhya Pradesh and other parts of the country for manufacturing polythene products. The Tribunal observed that at least two incidents of fire break out in the area every week, with smoke from burning plastic creating alarming levels of air pollution. Due to the congested layout of the area, fire brigade vehicles often find it difficult to access the site.
According to the news report, despite a ban on single-use plastic in Bhopal since 2022, polythene bags, disposable cups, and plates continue to be used extensively. It was reported that around 10 to 12 tonnes of plastic waste reach municipal transfer stations and the Adampur Cantonment daily, while a comparable quantity is illegally recycled in scrap yards. The Tribunal also took note of unregulated e-waste dismantling activities, where electronic items such as mobile phones and laptops are broken down to extract valuable metals, releasing hazardous gases into the environment.
The Bench referred to a study conducted by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), commissioned by the Pollution Control Board, which recorded PM10 levels as high as 225 near the scrapyard area—one of the highest levels noted in the city. Residents had reportedly raised repeated complaints about persistent pollution and health issues, alleging inaction on the part of civic authorities.
While examining the legal framework, the Tribunal undertook a detailed analysis of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, along with subsequent amendments and the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). It observed that multi-layered plastic is largely non-recyclable, non-energy recoverable, and has no viable alternative use. The Bench also noted that the 2018 amendment to Rule 9(3), which diluted the original mandate to phase out non-recyclable MLP, had been widely misused by producers, resulting in unchecked generation of plastic waste.
The Tribunal further observed that there is no effective mechanism to ensure recovery of MLP waste by producers, despite clear statutory obligations. It emphasised that burning of plastic and MLP releases highly carcinogenic toxins such as dioxins, furans, and mercury, posing severe risks to human health and the environment. Although scientific research on microplastics is still evolving, the Tribunal held that the environmental and public health threat posed by plastics and microplastics is undeniable and demands urgent regulatory intervention.
In view of the seriousness of the issue, the Tribunal directed impleadment of multiple authorities, including the Madhya Pradesh Government, the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board, the Bhopal Municipal Corporation, and the Collectors and Municipal Corporations of Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Gwalior, Rewa, and Ujjain. It also issued wide-ranging remedial directions, including immediate substitution of non-degradable plastic used in MLP packaging with biodegradable alternatives.
The Bench directed the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to promote technologies for aluminium extraction from plastic foils and for value-added reuse of MLP waste. Municipal bodies in major cities were instructed to review and strengthen their plastic waste disposal infrastructure, and recognised laboratories were directed to conduct biannual monitoring of drinking water sources and wetlands for microplastics.
Strong directions were also issued to the State Government and local authorities to shut down or relocate illegal plastic recycling units to designated industrial zones away from residential areas. The Tribunal ordered the formation of State-level and District-level monitoring committees to oversee plastic waste management and ensure periodic compliance reporting.
The Tribunal directed that replies be filed within six weeks and Action Taken Reports be submitted within four weeks by the Principal Secretary (Environment), the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board, District Collectors, and the concerned Municipal Corporations, underscoring the urgency of coordinated action to address the escalating plastic pollution crisis in the State.
Cause Title: Suo Moto Titled “Shehat Ka Kabad Do Lakh Logon Ke Liye Khatra Bane 50 Plastic Kharkhane” Dated 14th December, 2025, v. State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors.
Case No: Original Application No.189/2025(CZ)
Coram: Justice Sheo Kumar Singh, Judicial Member, and Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi, Expert Member
