Changing our habits can cut plastic use: Rizwana

Changing individual habits is key to tackling plastic pollution, Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said today (13 May).

Speaking at a workshop at the Intercontinental Dhaka, Rizwana highlighted the availability of alternatives and stressed the importance of adopting them. 

"There are now many alternatives to plastic. It's time we actively embrace those and reduce our reliance on harmful, disposable materials," she said.

The National Knowledge Sharing Workshop of the Plastic Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia (PLEASE) Project convened national and international stakeholders at the event, reads a press release. 

Under the theme "Scaling Innovations and Best Practices in Plastic Waste Management," the event showcased impactful community-driven innovations and progressive strategies aimed at combating plastic pollution.

Delivering the keynote address, Rizwana Hasan said, "Many people say that I only talk about polythene. But in reality, all types of single-use plastics are causing physical and environmental harm. We must pay attention to this issue. Our ancestors lived without plastic—so can we."

At the event, UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Gwyn Lewis highlighted the human impact of the PLEASE Project's initiatives, including fair compensation for waste pickers, new economic opportunities for women, and youth-led innovations.

Sudhir Muralidharan, UNOPS country manager, urged all participants to learn from and replicate successful models, while Gyongshim of the World Bank outlined a strategic vision focusing on policy enhancement, regional cooperation, and scaling up innovative solutions.