Microplastics, small plastic pieces ( microplastics washed with distilled water > compost free from microplastics > chemically separated microplastic > new macro-plastic, with some exceptions. Heavy metal concentrations were significantly higher in samples from Kochi, due to a larger bio-film formation on the plastics as determined by TOC and SEM analyses. The findings of the study highlight the importance of source segregation and prevention of mixing organic waste with plastic waste in MSW, to avoid hea…