As the use of electronic devices continues to grow in Bangladesh, the volume of electronic waste (e-waste) is also increasing, posing serious threats to the environment and public health.
Environmental activists have called on young people to play a more active role in promoting responsible e-waste management, including proper collection, recycling and reuse of discarded electronic products.
The call came at an e-waste awareness campaign held on Saturday (October 31) at Bashundhara City Shopping Complex and surrounding areas in Panthapath, Dhaka.
Volunteer for Environment (VFE) and YOUCAN jointly organized the campaign, with overall support from Bhangariwala.
Speakers at the campaign warned that discarded mobile phones, laptops, computers, televisions, batteries and chargers may contain hazardous substances such as lead, mercury and cadmium.
They said dumping such waste with regular household garbage or burning it in an uncontrolled manner can contaminate soil, water and air, while exposing people to long-term health risks.
YOUCAN founder Yudhishthir Chandra Biswas said coordinated efforts among young people, volunteer organizations and relevant institutions were essential to bringing meaningful changes to e-waste management.
“Alongside raising awareness, we need to promote responsible waste management practices through collective initiatives,” he said.
Sheikh Shahrukh Farhan, director of Volunteer for Environment, said young people must go beyond personal awareness and actively promote responsible waste management practices in their families and communities.
“Being aware of e-waste pollution is not enough. Young people must take an active role in encouraging their families and communities to adopt responsible waste management practices,” he said.
Nasim Nek, entrepreneur of Bhangariwala, said e-waste should not be treated as ordinary garbage but collected separately and brought under proper recycling systems.
“Workers involved in scrap collection and waste management must be effectively integrated into the e-waste management system,” he said.
The speakers noted that e-waste management has become a growing environmental challenge for Bangladesh, a densely populated and climate-vulnerable country.
Although the use of electronic devices is expanding rapidly, systems for waste collection, segregation and safe recycling have not developed at the same pace, they said.
They also stressed that managing e-waste should not be considered the sole responsibility of the government. Citizens, educational institutions, manufacturers, businesses and young people must work together to address the problem.
As part of the campaign, participants distributed awareness leaflets among shoppers, residents and businesses at Bashundhara City and nearby areas.
They encouraged people to avoid dumping discarded electronic products indiscriminately, deposit them at designated collection points, repair and reuse functional devices where possible, and ensure safe recycling of unusable products.
The organizers said they plan to continue awareness initiatives at family, educational institutions and community levels, while exploring larger public engagement programmes in the future.
The campaign carried the message: “Recycle, Rethink, Reform, Reuse.”