A recent study by Council of Scientific & Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) warns that India’s decades-old garbage dumps are emerging as major sources of microplastic pollution.

• Microplastics are synthetic plastic particles smaller than 5 mm formed from the breakdown of larger plastics or manufactured directly for industrial use.
  • Types:
    • Primary: Intentionally manufactured small plastics (e.g., microbeads, industrial pellets).
    • Secondary: Generated from degradation of larger plastic waste due to sunlight, heat, and physical abrasion.

Key Findings of the Study

• Dispersion: Landfill leachate and seasonal winds transport microplastics into groundwater, farmlands (soil), urban areas, and coastal ecosystems.
  • These  tiny, toxic particles pose a direct threat to local agriculture, drinking water, food webs, and human health.
• Primary Culprits: Polyethene and polypropylene are the most frequently identified plastics, which dangerously pollute soils and compost used for growing food.
• Policy Gap: Existing initiatives such as the Swachh Bharat Mission lack dedicated mechanisms for monitoring microplastic emissions during landfill remediation.
• Governance Deficit: Absence of India-specific standardised monitoring frameworks hinders effective regulation and evidence-based waste management.

Challenges of Landfills Management in India

• Waste Management Deficit: Poor waste segregation, inadequate landfill infrastructure, etc. due to weak financial and technological capacities of Municipal bodies hinder scientific waste processing.
• Urban Sustainability Challenge: Rapid urbanisation and rising municipal waste generation (nearly 1.62 lakh tonnes daily) are placing immense pressure on existing landfill capacities.