The world is witnessing various pollutants in the environment since the last few decades that threaten human life. The biological responses to various pollutants show variations as the living system behaves differently in their sensitivities to the same types of pollutants. The relative response and activity depend upon the duration of exposure to the specific pollutant. It is impossible to stop various activities leading to environmental pollution; however, pollutants can be eliminated from the environment using the microorganisms. Application of biological processes can be executed in order to get rid of toxic pollutants through their biodegradation. The pollutants like hydrocarbons, heavy metals, chlorinated hydrocarbons, nitroaromatic compounds, non-chlorinated herbicides and pesticides, organophosphates, radionuclides can lead to serious health and environmental problems. The main objective of this paper is to evaluate the effects of pollutants on the living beings and environment, microbial responses to pollution, and distribution of various biodegrading microorganisms in the environment. Profiling of biodegrading microor-ganisms, microbial biosensor to detect environmental pollution, and strain improvement through genetic manipulation to enhance the biodegradation process have been discussed in detail.

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The world’s rising energy needs, and the depletion of fossil resources demand a shift from fossil-based feedstocks to organic waste to develop a competitive, resource-efficient, and low-carbon sustainable economy in the long run. It is well known that the production of fuels and chemicals via chemical routes is advantageous because it is a well-established technology with low production costs. However, the use of toxic/environmentally harmful and expensive catalysts generates toxic intermediates, making the process unsustainable. Alternatively, utilization of renewable resources for bioprocessing with a multi-product approach that aligns novel integration improves resource utilization and contributes to the “green economy”. The present review discusses organic waste bioprocessing through the anaerobic fermentation (AF) process to produce biohydrogen (H2), biomethane (CH4), volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and medium chain fatty acids (MCFA). Furthermore, the roles of photosynthetic bacteria and microalgae for biofuel production are discussed. In addition, a roadmap to create a fermentative biorefinery approach in the framework of an AF-integrated bioprocessing format is deliberated, along with limitations and future scope. This novel bioprocessing approach significantly contributes to promoting the circular bioeconomy by launching complete carbon turnover practices in accordance with sustainable development goals.