Communities and municipalities must work together to solve plastic waste issues

Plastic waste management remains a serious challenge in Bangladesh.

According to BRAC's 2024 Baseline Study conducted in Cox's Bazar, an estimated 34.5 tonnes of plastic waste are mismanaged daily in the municipality, flowing into canals, drains, and eventually the sea. The study also found that only 18 per cent of the population practices waste segregation at source, with many lacking access to formal waste collection services.

In response to the growing plastic pollution crisis, a high-level national dialogue titled "Municipal Waste Management: Addressing Plastic Pollution in Bangladesh" was held on Wednesday, 7 May 2025, at InterContinental Dhaka. Organised by BRAC under its flagship Plastic Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia (PLEASE) project -- funded by the World Bank with support from South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) -- the event brought together senior government officials, municipal leaders, private sector representatives, researchers, and development practitioners.

AKM Tariqul Alam, Additional Secretary, Local Government Division (LGD), and Mohammad Navid Safiullah, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), graced the event as guests of honour. Bushra Nishat, Environmental Specialist, The World Bank, attended as the special guest. Imamul Azam Shahi, Programme Head, Urban Development Programme (UDP), delivered the welcome address, while Md. Ekhtekharul Islam, a faculty member at the Independent University, presented the keynote.

Sankalita Shome, Chief Coordinator at the Bangladesh Sustainability Alliance (BSA), moderated the panel discussion. Insights were shared by Rubaiya Afroz, Municipal Administrator, Cox's Bazar Municipality; Kazi Suman, Senior Chemist (Waste and Chemicals Management), Department of Environment (DoE); Rubina Ferdousi, Deputy Secretary, MoEFCC; Bitopi Das Chowdhury, Country Head of Corporate Affairs and Brand and Marketing, Standard Chartered Bangladesh; Ishrat Shabnam, Country Director, Practical Action; and Dharitri Kumar Sarkar, Joint Secretary (Climate Change), MoEFCC.

Speaking at the event, AKM Tariqul Alam emphasised the importance of preventing plastic waste from flowing downstream into the sea by strengthening systems that intercept waste along rivers and streams. He added that Bangladesh can benefit from studying international best practices and scaling up homegrown, locally led innovations in waste management.

Mohammad Navid Safiullah stated that the ministry has reinforced regulatory measures and scaled enforcement to address the growing plastic pollution crisis. In parallel, it promotes sustainable alternatives, such as jute- and potato-starch-based products. He noted that initiatives like the PLEASE project are already producing promising results, including a 15 per cent improvement in source segregation and noticeable reductions in plastic waste hotspots -- demonstrating the impact of coordinated action and stakeholder commitment.

Bushra Nishat highlighted that although Bangladesh's per capita plastic use—around 9 kg annually—is significantly lower than that of countries like the USA or UK, the consequences of mismanaged plastic waste are much more severe. She identified inadequate source segregation as a major challenge and underscored the need for household-level awareness to drive meaningful community participation in waste management.

In his closing remarks and vote of thanks, Dr. Md. Liakath Ali, Director of the Climate Change, Urban Development, and Disaster Risk Management Programme at BRAC, emphasised the importance of multi-level stakeholder coordination and adopting circular economy principles to address plastic waste effectively. With increasing momentum in plastic waste management efforts, he expressed hope that Bangladesh is moving steadily towards its long-term vision of zero waste.

The dialogue underscored the need for stronger municipal leadership and coordination. Participants emphasised that city governments must have the authority, resources, and capacity to implement effective, locally led waste management solutions. Speakers highlighted persistent gaps in collection, segregation, and enforcement -- particularly in urban coastal areas such as Cox's Bazar, where tourism and the influx of Rohingya populations have intensified the challenge. While national policies are in place, translating them into actionable interventions at the municipal level remains a critical hurdle.

An exhibition was also organised as part of the event, showcasing innovative solutions piloted under the PLEASE project in Cox's Bazar. Green entrepreneurs, including ProPad, DenimRevive, Repro, Wonder Garden, EcoCare, EcoSundar Khulna, and Art for Arter, showcased recycled and upcycled products, such as shoes made from discarded denim and eco-friendly sanitary items. Guests were introduced to the project's aesthetically designed communal bins and a proposed plastic recycling facility, both of which aim to encourage municipalities to adopt inclusive and sustainable waste management practices.

Notably, data from the PLEASE project indicate that approximately 12.5% of household waste in Cox's Bazar is plastic. This pollution level poses a significant threat to coastal ecosystems and the lives and livelihoods of communities that rely on the sea. The project aims to establish an effective platform for plastic waste management in Cox's Bazar through cross-sectoral coordination. It is working to develop practical, sustainable solutions grounded in inclusive, multi-stakeholder participation.