Can you see the microplastics? Where is it? For those who are not familiar with microplastics, they are extremely small plastic particles that range in size from 1 micrometre (µm) to 5 millimetres. To clarify, 1 micrometre (commonly referred to as a micron) is equal to 1/1000 of a millimetre. Because they are so small, we cannot see them, but we eat and drink them unknowingly. In particular, many researchers have been warning people to avoid drinking water from PET bottles. They claimed that the chemical reactions between plastic packets and bottles can induce cancer and other terminal diseases. However, it has been challenging to discourage people from using these bottles. Recently, a court made a landmark decision that may provide some respite in this matter.

The Madras High Court has raised serious concerns over the presence of microplastics in plastic-packaged food and drinking water, calling on the Government of India to introduce mandatory warning labels to inform consumers about potential health risks. The Madras High Court has raised serious concerns over the presence of microplastics in plastic-packaged food and drinking water, calling on the Government of India to introduce mandatory warning labels to inform consumers about potential health risks. Hearing writ petitions on plastic contamination, the Court observed that consumers have a right to know about exposure to microplastics—minute plastic particles that enter the human body through food and water. The judges likened the proposed warnings to health labels on liquor bottles, stating that such disclosures enable informed consumer choice. The Court highlighted emerging scientific evidence indicating that microplastics could pose health risks, particularly to pregnant women, children, and future generations, and also flagged the environmental consequences of plastic pollution entering the food chain. During the hearing, the Court was informed that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), under the Union Health Ministry, is conducting studies to identify and quantify micro- and nano-plastics in food and beverages. The research involves institutions including CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, and BITS Pilani. Government submissions revealed preliminary findings indicating the presence of microplastics in commonly consumed items such as salt and packaged drinking water in several states. Pending final scientific conclusions, the Court stated that warning labels would serve as an interim consumer protection measure. Warning labels have no meaning in our humble opinion. We should not forget that the mandatory warning against smoking has not stopped the smokers. The stringent measures against public smoking alone had some impact. Soon, we will see one more slogan.  SAY ‘NO’ TO MICROPLASTICS!

After a decade of solid waste management rules 2016, the present SWM Rules, 2026 is expected to strengthen solid waste management across urban and rural India, aligning with the circular economy and polluter-pays principles. Undoubtedly, there is a shift in waste management. From disposal orientation, we are moving towards resource orientation. The new rules are targeting mandatory 4 Stream Segregation at Source. This means that the waste generators must now segregate waste into four distinct categories: Wet waste, Dry waste, Sanitary waste and Special care waste. While the common man is somewhat familiar with dry, wet and Sanitary Waste, he may not be clear about Special Care Waste. They are bulbs, paints, expired medicines, batteries, etc. Segregation at source is now mandatory for all households, institutions, and establishments. Were the 2016 rules not mandatory?  Anyway, there is no point in doing a post mortem. Bulk Waste Generator (BWG), a new term coined in the 2026 act, includes a new class of entities called buildings with 20,000 m² area, Entities consuming 40,000 litres of water/day and places generating 100 kg of solid waste/day. All BWGs must ensure segregation, collection, transport and environmentally sound processing of waste (e.g., onsite composting). If onsite processing isn’t feasible, obtain an Extended Bulk Waste Generator Responsibility (EBWGR) certificate. If enforced, 30 % of waste will be processed at source, reducing the burden on local bodies. According to the new rules, digital monitoring will ensure compliance. Improper segregation and false reporting will be penalised as per the ‘Polluter Pays’ principles.

Landfills will be used for the recycling of non-recyclables only, and not for dumping. The circular economy is given weightage in the new rules by strengthening Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and promoting the reuse of waste as Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) in boilers/cement kilns. The idea is to reduce dependency on fossil fuels. Visitor waste management fees will be implemented in hill areas to regulate tourist numbers according to waste capacity.  The SWM Rules 2026 significantly enhance waste segregation, introduce digital oversight, increase accountability for major waste generators, limit landfill use, remediate legacy sites, and promote circular waste management in India—all from April 1, 2026. While the 2016 rules did not bring about any significant changes, will the 2026 rules set a new standard? All eyes are set on enforcement!  We all live with hopes only!

Elephants are always the soft victims! In December 2025, a high-speed New Delhi Rajdhani Express collided with a herd of elephants in the Jamunamukh–Kampur section under the Lumding division in Assam. The incident resulted in the deaths of seven elephants, including calves, and injured one more. Five coaches of the train were derailed due to the crash. Unfortunately, such incidents are common in India. At night, visibility may be a challenge for the drivers. But it is not clear how massive animals, even when they come in huge numbers, go unnoticed. We have quite often heard that elephants come out of the forests in search of food and damage agricultural lands and villages adjacent to the forest area. Often, social media posts show elephants stealing sugarcane from trucks in highway. At least, this is understandable.

When it comes to the killing of elephants within their natural habitat, no excuse is acceptable. It is unreasonable to lose valuable wildlife because of drivers’ negligence. While drivers may argue that it’s difficult to stop high-speed trains when they spot wild animals at a distance, the real question is why these trains are allowed to run at such high speeds in the first place. When such accidents happen, no one raises their voice for the voiceless. Or we may say that the animals could not ventilate their anger in any way. Occasionally, the naturalists come across mild forms of protest through comics and stories, like what we are doing right now.   To reduce elephant-train collisions, we need to explore measures such as Technology-based early warning systems (e.g., camera or sensor networks) to alert trains about elephant presence. In fact, these suggestions have been advocated for a long time. But they have not taken any tangible shape so far. Underpasses, skyways and modified track designs in high-risk zones may help. On highways, we see signage in known elephant-crossing zones. The same can be of use in jungle areas. Environmentalists say that linear infrastructure projects should avoid passing directly through wildlife sanctuaries, suggesting longer, alternative routes to protect the park’s biodiversity. We are left with minimal national parks and limited wildlife. Is it not necessary to protect the valuable natural assets?

In today’s world, the terminology surrounding eco-friendly living is often both confusing and misleading, undermining the true essence of environmental responsibility. Could burning fuel be green? Could we burst crackers and call them green? Or do we really use biodegradable plastic? Green fuel refers to fuels that are considered eco-friendly because they emit lower greenhouse gas emissions and less pollution compared to conventional fossil fuels, namely coal, petrol, or diesel. However, the term is often used loosely, and sometimes misleadingly, in the public domain. CNG was considered an early green fuel. Non-conventional energy forms such as solar, wind, tidal energies are also considered eco-friendly and therefore ‘green’. And some advocate biofuel.When a fuel burns and emits carbon, how can it be green? Similarly, green crackers are just an ‘accommodating invention’ to appease the dogmatic beliefs. Green crackers are a category of firecrackers developed in India (mainly by CSIR-NEERI) to reduce air and noise pollution compared to conventional crackers. They were promoted especially after the Supreme Court restrictions on firecrackers. They are not ‘zero-pollution’ crackers but less polluting. The bitter truth is that the green crackers still emit particulate matter, sulphur compounds, nitrogen oxides, and CO₂. We can use the degrees of comparison for the ‘greenness’ of anything – green, greener and greenest. For instance, green crackers are greener than conventional crackers, but they are not the greenest. In that way, we can conclude that there is no greenest cracker. PM 2.5 peaks out during festivals, especially Diwali. We have reduced the bursting time to 2 hours, but not the volume of bursting.

Biodegradable plastic is not a solution to plastic pollution. Many products labelled as “biodegradable” do not actually break down in natural environments. For instance, Oxo-degradable plastics are not biodegradable but conventional plastics with metal salt additives. Microbes do not eat them, but they actually break down into smaller microplastics and nanoplastics. Plastics made from organic matter may degrade under industrial composting. Some plastics biodegrade but are costly. Some are partially biodegradable, as the plastic part remains as microplastics. One thing is clear, the world is yet to eliminate PLASTICS but tries to patch up, using biodegradability to its advantage.

In any case, GREENWASHING continues for sure!

The title may perhaps generate inquisitiveness and encourage environmental activists to understand my perspective. Let me clarify why I chose the topic. The trigger was a project work, initiated by a student, pursuing his MCA. As part of his project work, he was doing an in-depth analysis of Bangalore’s ward-wise tree cover and its role in combating the rising Air Quality Index (AQI). Unlike Delhites, AQI is a term, perhaps, new to many Bengalurians, not discussed widely so far.  Now, everyone in Bangalore knows what AQI is, as Bangalore’s air is also turning ‘toxic’, having crossed the 100-mark. At least this is what netizens are annoyed about nowadays. But, Delhites, don’t take this the wrong way—Bangalore isn’t trying to compare itself to you. You are top-notch when it comes to air pollution levels, with AQI readings at 800. It might take Bangalore years to reach your level. However, don’t underestimate the city’s potential. Bengalurians are confident that the AQI will reach your level. They pin their hopes on developmental activities: the ongoing metro construction, the upcoming tunnel road, the booming IT industry, and the influence of real estate interests, along with a government that often hesitates to heed expert advice.

Let me come back to the student’s thought-provoking study on satellite-based tree cover mapping and the area-wise relative AQI status. The research team called me to have my views on the study. I appreciated his efforts to map the tree cover and the AQI status even in small segments like Panchayats and wards. The research team was willing to consider my views. My first question was, ‘Will trees really come to the rescue in our battle against air pollution?’ The truth might surprise you: the answer is a resounding NO! Let’s explore why! Trees absorb carbon, but they cannot do the same for particulate matter (PM 2.5, PM 10) on leaf surfaces. Some studies show that the suspended particulate matter that gets deposited on leaves blocks stomata (small pores) on the leaves. Stomata in leaves are important for carbon absorption. In regions like Bangalore, with good rain (monsoon failures apart), those dust particles are washed, grounded, and leaves get cleaned up. But what about rain-starving places with more dust and carbon? Of course, trees act as natural filters to filter dust. However, the dust level remains uncontrollable due to ongoing construction activities in urban areas. While trees play a vital role in improving our environment, they cannot eliminate air pollution, as current pollution levels are too high to manage. A holistic time-bound approach is needed