The tribunal’s observations came during a review of plastic pollution and microplastic contamination in the state. Highlighting the potential hazards from unregulated recycling, the NGT emphasized the need for technology evaluation, development of new methods to remove microplastics from air, water, and soil, and promotion of sustainable product design in textiles, tires, detergents, and road surfaces.

Directives Issued by NGT

The tribunal directed authorities to:

• Ban microplastics in personal care and cosmetic products.

• Encourage the use of washing machines with microfiber filters.

• Reduce leakage of plastics into the environment through better solid waste management.

• Promote biodegradable plastics and regulated recycling processes.

• Clean rivers, wetlands, and urban water bodies.

• Install filters and screens in sewage and rainwater systems.

• Conduct biannual monitoring of microplastics in municipal water supplies and wetlands.

• Shut down or relocate illegal plastic recycling units to designated industrial areas.

• Replace non-biodegradable Multi-Layer Plastic (MLP) with biodegradable alternatives.

The tribunal also emphasized the need for health risk assessments, noting that while microplastic consumption has so far shown limited immediate health impacts, long-term studies remain essential. It recommended that expert institutions, including the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), develop guidelines and safety standards.

State and Local Oversight

The NGT ordered the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board, along with municipal corporations in Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Gwalior, Rewa, and Ujjain, to monitor and regulate plastic waste effectively. State and district-level committees have been tasked with regular oversight, while the Environment Secretary must submit a compliance and action report within four weeks, ahead of a hearing scheduled for March 27.

The tribunal’s intervention comes amid growing concern over microplastic pollution and its long-term environmental and public health consequences, signaling stricter enforcement of plastic management laws across the state.