The Gujarat High Court has directed eight municipal corporations in the state to replicate the Gujarat Pollution Control Board's (GPCB) initiatives to tackle plastic waste.

These initiatives include the installation of cloth bag vending machines and reverse vending machines for collecting plastic bottles to promote eco-friendly practices and effective waste management.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice DN Ray, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning plastic waste near the Girnar hill temples in Junagadh—an eco-sensitive zone—commended GPCB’s measures already implemented in Ahmedabad and Surat.

"In the meantime, the 8 Municipal Corporations in the State shall make an endeavour to emulate the initiative taken by the GPCB… in all key areas to be identified by them, specifically where there is a large footfall of the general public," the Court stated.

The Court also asked municipalities responsible for managing prominent tourist locations such as Dwarka and Somnath to set up similar machines in high-footfall areas. Further, the bench stressed the role of municipal commissioners in proactively curbing plastic pollution by conducting school workshops and supporting the Central Government’s Swachh Bharat Mission campaign.

In its affidavit, the GPCB informed the Court that out of 91 Nagarpalikas it inspected:

• 65 Nagarpalikas have installed Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs)

  • Of these, 39 are manually operated, 21 are mechanized, and 5 are hybrid

  • 3 facilities are not yet operational

• 32 Nagarpalikas have signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with registered Plastic Waste Processors

• 26 Nagarpalikas have no MRFs; for 3 of them, facilities are under construction; 1 has tied up with a private agency to process legacy waste

• 25 Nagarpalikas failed to provide any data on plastic waste generation

As a result of these gaps, the GPCB has issued 88 show-cause notices to local bodies for failing to install MRFs or sign MoUs for plastic waste processing.

To ensure better compliance with the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, the GPCB has launched two key initiatives:

• Installation of Cloth Bag Vending Machines across key areas in Ahmedabad and Surat

• Installation of 24 Reverse Vending Machines across Gujarat for collecting plastic bottles and encouraging recycling

The Board and the State Monitoring Committee assured the Court that they remain committed to the strict and sustained enforcement of the 2016 Rules.

The matter is scheduled for the next hearing on September 12.

Case Title: Amit Manibhai Panchal v. State of Gujarat & Others