Expired Aminbazar landfill – a growing threat to Dhaka's air, global climate

The environmental clearance certificate for the Aminbazar landfill site in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, expired in 2017 but the Dhaka North City continues to dump waste on this exhausted site, known for releasing copious amounts of methane (CH₄), a potent greenhouse gas.

To free up space, the city authorities often resort to burning solid waste, according to garbage collectors, releasing carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrogen compounds, ammonia, sulfides, and other hazardous gases into the air, not to mention the foul smell that envelops an area of at least three-square kilometres.

Environmental experts warn that CH₄ emissions significantly contribute to global warming by trapping atmospheric heat. Furthermore, the black smoke produced from burning waste exacerbates air pollution, posing serious health risks to residents.

They called for urgent action on sustainable waste management solutions in Dhaka.

A 2022 study by Texas State University indicates that the Aminbazar landfill emits an average of 40 gigagrams (Gg) of methane (CH₄) annually, equating to around 2.96 kg per acre per day.

Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, chairman of the Centre for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS), told TBS, "A recent study revealed that Dhaka is one of the 12 places in the world contributing the most to methane gas emissions, with the Aminbazar landfill being one of the key sources."

He explained, "Methane gas contributes 60-80% more to global warming than carbon, and a significant portion of the carbon emissions we produce comes from landfills. More methane is generated because over 60% of biodegradable waste is dumped in landfills."

According to Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) officials, around 3,500 tonnes of solid waste are dumped at the Aminbazar landfill daily without segregation. Annually, Dhaka North manages over 1.2 million tonnes of solid waste, more than 60% of which consists of kitchen waste.

Set up with Japanese assistance in 2009, the Aminbazar landfill began operating on 55 acres. According to JICA, it expired in 2017.

A recent visit to the Aminbazar landfill revealed outdated waste storage practices. Trucks dumped waste openly, with no health protocols followed. The landfill, built by filling a water reservoir, now overflows into nearby water. Residents of the surrounding areas suffer from the stench.

Md Abdur Razzaque, a waste worker, said, "The City Corporation rarely provides health equipment. We handle 2-3 times more waste than usual."

Afroza Begum, a garbage collector, noted, "There's a mountain of waste, constant fires and risk of injury. Amid all this, we collect what we can sell to survive."

After the landfill's environmental clearance expired in 2017, a parliamentary committee related to the matter recommended a maximum fine for DNCC for dumping waste without clearance.

DNCC Chief Waste Management Officer, Mohammad Fida Hasan, told TBS, "Our landfill capacity was exhausted in 2017, and we're forced to keep waste there. We're working to acquire 50 more acres of land but not getting financial aid from the government. A project to generate electricity from waste is underway, but progress is slow due to complications."

He added, "We're concerned about toxic methane emissions from the landfill. We've signed an agreement with a Korean company to survey methane levels and explore supplying it to the Titas gas line, though it will take time."

Regarding waste burning, he said, "We are not burning waste. The fire is caused by gases after waste is dumped, and we can't control it."

Bangladesh lacks legal directives for landfill setups, though global standards require landfills to be distanced from airports, highways, and populated areas. These standards were ignored in the case of the Aminbazar landfill.

Responding to a petition filed by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela) in 2010, the High Court clamped a ban on garbage dumping there due to pollution concerns, but the Appellate Division lifted the ban two months later following an appeal by the DNCC.

Calls for waste management 

Environmental experts suggest that recycling technologies can help address the landfill issue, alongside efforts to reuse products like shopping bags and scrap paper, and compost food or yard waste.

Md Easir Arafat Khan, associate professor of Chemical Engineering at BUET, told TBS, "Methane gas generated from landfills is harmful to the environment. Many countries manage landfill methane and Dhaka North should take steps to control and utilise it."

According to the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), around 11.2 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste are produced annually worldwide, enough to fill over 800,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Countries like the US are now seeking alternative waste disposal methods, as China, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia have banned the import of foreign waste.

Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, chairman of the Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS), said, "We are unable to manage landfills. The city corporations should be held accountable and waste should be managed through using global models. The government should prioritise waste-to-energy, recycling and reuse."