CHENNAI: The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has pulled up metropolitan local bodies in Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Andhra Pradesh government for failing to execute its order to phase out non-recyclable multi-layered plastic (MLP) waste, despite a clear directive issued nearly two years ago.
In a stern warning issued last week, a bench of Justice Pushpa Satyanarayana and expert member K Satyagopal said that if action taken reports are not submitted by the next hearing on August 14, each party would have to pay Rs 20,000 to file their reports.
“If the state has not moved an inch in complying with the order, heavy penalties will follow,” the tribunal said. The warning came in response to an execution application filed by environmental activist Antony Clement Rubin, seeking enforcement of the tribunal’s August 2023 order.
The NGT had instructed civic bodies to adopt the Puducherry model for waste segregation and set up MLP recycling facilities, either independently or through public-private partnerships. It had also directed the union environment ministry to promote recycling technologies, including solvent-based methods for extracting aluminium from packaging foils.
Local bodies were told to file compliance reports within three months. However, none of the respondents have complied with the order. The tribunal was particularly critical of Chennai corporation for failing to even inspect the Puducherry facility next door. Petitioner’s counsel Ritwik Dutta told TNIE that the continued use of non-recyclable MLP violates Rule 9(3) of the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2018.
MLP packaging, including aseptic cartons and laminated snack wrappers, consists of six layers - four of plastic, one paper, and one aluminium - making them commercially non-recyclable.