The National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) to submit a response within one month regarding the establishment of a Micro-Composting Centre (MCC) at B1-Bharatpur, GA Colony.
The order followed complaints from residents and a petition filed by Jana Kalyan Samiti.
The petition alleged that the MCC violates environmental norms and poses public health risks in a densely populated residential zone. According to NGT’s October 2025 application documents, the facility could expose residents to foul odour, vector breeding, and waste-handling hazards.
The MCC project aims to decentralise solid waste management by processing segregated biodegradable waste locally. Municipal workers currently load waste into trucks for centralised disposal, but MCCs are designed to reduce transport costs and improve efficiency through localised composting.
However, residents argue that placing such a facility inside a residential colony undermines safety and environmental standards. They demand relocation of the MCC to a non-residential zone.
The NGT order underscores the balance between sustainable waste management and community health. While MCCs support eco-friendly composting and reduce landfill dependency, their placement must comply with environmental safeguards.
