United News of Bangladesh

Amid Bangladesh’s ongoing struggle with urban waste management, Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) has made acsignificant progress by establishing the country’s first state-of-the-art Material Recovery Facility (MRF). This initiative, developed in collaboration with LafargeHolcim Bangladesh, aims to free the city from plastic and polythene waste. Constructed at a cost of Tk 15.30 crore, the facility is located at the Lalmatia Dumping Ground and represents a pioneering approach to sustainable waste management in Bangladesh. Tackling a Growing Waste Crisis SCC’s conservancy workers collect around 375 tonnes of waste daily, all of which is disposed of at Lalmatia. Over the years, the eight-acre landfill has accumulated an estimated 800,000 tonnes of waste, posing significant environmental risks. Mohammad Ekleem Abdeen, Chief Waste Management Officer at SCC, acknowledged the failure of previous initiatives to deliver effective solutions. But he expressed confidence that the new MRF would revolutionise waste disposal in the city. A Sustainable Waste Management Model LafargeHolcim’s GeoCycle programme plays a crucial role in waste management, utilising its Chhatak cement plant—the only facility in the country capable of producing clinker from imported alternative materials. Hospital waste management in Bangladesh lags behind sustainable standards Latifur Rahman, Senior Manager of GeoCycle Bangladesh, explained that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between SCC and LafargeHolcim in September 2022 to introduce this sustainable system. Following this agreement, construction of the MRF commenced at Lalmatia, and operations officially began in May 2024. Currently, over 60 tonnes of waste are transported daily from Lalmatia to the Chhatak cement plant, where it is processed sustainably. There are plans to increase this volume in the coming years. Eliminating Non-Degradable Waste The MRF separates non-degradable waste, such as plastic and polythene, which is then processed at the cement plant. Latifur Rahman said that the waste is burned at temperatures of approximately 1,500°C, ensuring complete co-processing without any residual environmental pollution. It is estimated that clearing the existing waste at Lalmatia could take seven to eight years, with GeoCycle’s annual waste processing capacity currently standing at 100,000 tonnes. Plans are in place to expand this capacity further. A Model for the Nation Nur Azizur Rahman, Chief Engineer at SCC, praised LafargeHolcim’s GeoCycle technology, highlighting its major contribution to SCC’s vision of a greener, waste-free city. LafargeHolcim Bangladesh’s CEO Mohammad Iqbal Chowdhury confirmed that GeoCycle remains the only waste management method approved by the Department of Environment. SeaKeepers leads the charge in Sundarbans plastic waste management initiative The company currently provides waste management services to various public and private organisations nationwide and hopes to support other city corporations in implementing similar initiatives. A delegation from Narayanganj City Corporation recently visited the MRF and Chhatak cement plant to study the waste management technology and explore opportunities for future collaboration. Call for National Adoption Former SCC Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury, who played a key role in establishing the MRF, remarked that previous efforts had failed to yield results, whereas this approach had proven practical and effective. He urged the government to ensure the facility’s continued operation and suggested that SCC’s initiative could serve as a model for other city corporations across Bangladesh. Urgent Need for Sustainable Solutions According to a study by the Asia-Europe Foundation, 55% of waste in Bangladesh is dumped in the open, with much of it either left uncollected or burned—contributing to severe environmental hazards. This waste blocks urban drainage systems, leading to frequent flooding even after minor rainfall. Experts stress the need to raise awareness and promote sustainable waste management practices to tackle this growing issue. As Bangladesh’s urban population continues to expand, effective waste disposal solutions will be critical to ensuring a cleaner, healthier environment. Waste treatment plant lies inoperative for 3 years in Barguna town Currently, Dhaka ranks among the world’s most polluted cities, with poor waste management identified as a major contributing factor, according to a report by UNFPA. Without urgent intervention, the problem will only worsen. Sylhet’s initiative offers a ray of hope. If adopted nationwide, this sustainable waste management model could transform urban waste disposal across Bangladesh, paving the way for a cleaner and more sustainable future.    

Experts have warned that Bangladesh’s current healthcare waste management system falls significantly short of sustainable waste management principles, with 55% of solid waste in urban areas remaining uncollected, exacerbating pollution, public health risks and climate change. Despite the severe consequences of inadequate legislation and the absence of a comprehensive waste management plan, Bangladesh lacks a dedicated authority to oversee this critical issue. The country’s medical waste generation is increasing at an estimated rate of 3% per year, with overall waste production standing at approximately 25,000 tonnes per day. Dhaka alone manages nearly 6,500 tonnes daily, a figure projected to rise to 8,500 tonnes by 2032. Meanwhile, South Asia generates over 1.5 million tonnes of solid waste daily, with only 40% being collected and less than 10% recycled, according to the World Bank. A study titled Healthcare Waste in Bangladesh: Current Status, the Impact of Covid-19, and Sustainable Management with Life Cycle and Circular Economy Framework predicts that, excluding surges due to Covid-19 and other medical emergencies, Bangladesh will generate approximately 50,000 tonnes of medical waste (1.25 kg per bed per day) in 2025, of which 12,435 tonnes will be hazardous. Research published in 2022 found that medical waste generation in Dhaka ranges between 1.63 kg and 1.99 kg per bed per day, a figure that significantly increased after the Covid-19 pandemic. Persistent Challenges Despite Some Progress The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) established five medical waste management facilities in Cox’s Bazar district between 2015 and 2021. Despite such initiatives, medical waste management challenges persist, particularly in areas with vulnerable populations. Severe shortages cripple healthcare at Bagerhat’s 250-bed hospital The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Bangladesh hosted the 12th episode of SDG Café, a monthly roundtable discussion series focusing on sustainable development goals (SDGs). The event, held on 3 October 2024, explored Solid Waste Management – Challenges and Solutions for Bangladesh and highlighted SDGs 11, 12, and 13, which aim to reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse by 2030. Expert Insights on Sustainable Solutions Keynote speaker Dr Rowshan Mamtaz, Professor of Environmental Engineering at Buet, outlined the stark realities of Bangladesh’s waste management crisis. She stressed the need for a comprehensive household waste segregation system, pointing out that the volume of waste is expected to double every 15 years. The country’s inadequate infrastructure, lack of segregation, and poorly managed landfills are worsening environmental issues. Dr Mamtaz called for an urgent shift towards the 3R approach—Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle—and emphasised that Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) must be implemented and enforced to develop a sustainable waste management framework. UNOPS Bangladesh Country Manager Sudhir Muralidharan echoed these sentiments, stating, “Solid waste management is not just about disposal; it is about reshaping our consumption patterns and prioritising sustainability.” Although medical waste comprises only about 1% of total solid waste in Bangladesh, its improper handling leads to contamination of the entire waste stream, making it hazardous. Regulatory Framework and Its Limitations The Bangladeshi government introduced the Solid Waste Management Rules 2021 and the National 3R Strategy to enhance waste management practices. City corporations and municipalities have incorporated these strategies to improve their waste management activities. The Solid Waste Management Rules 2021 also introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for the first time. More than half of trainees fail to join Bangabandhu Super Specialized Hospital after training Despite these regulations, Bangladesh has yet to establish a dedicated authority to manage medical waste. Instead, organisations such as PRISM Bangladesh, Waste Concern, the Centre for Sustainable Development (CSD), the Environment and Social Development Organisation (ESDO), and ICDDR,B take the lead in medical waste management, particularly in Dhaka. Medical Waste Mismanagement and Corruption Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has revealed that certain hospital staff members sell reusable medical waste—such as glass bottles, syringes, saline bags, and blood bags—to unscrupulous recyclable waste collectors instead of ensuring proper disposal. A syndicate reportedly cleans and repackages these materials without adequate sterilisation before selling them to drug stores, hospitals, and clinics. Under the Medical Waste (Management and Treatment) Rules 2008, hospitals are required to cut or puncture plastic tubes and other waste items to prevent reuse. However, TIB research found that 31% of hospitals fail to comply with this rule, and 49% lack needle destroyers. A study titled Governance Challenges in Medical Waste Management and Way Forward, conducted between June 2021 and November 2022, surveyed 93 medical waste workers and 231 institutions, including hospitals, city corporations, and municipal authorities across 45 districts. The study found widespread non-compliance with regulations and a lack of oversight. Although the 2008 regulations mandated the formation of an Authority within three months of publication, this has yet to materialise. Instead, city corporations and hospitals have outsourced waste management to unlicensed contractors. Lack of Transparency and Coordination UNB investigations at various public and private hospitals in Dhaka found that most institutions were reluctant to discuss their waste management practices. Many hospitals still dispose of waste as general refuse, citing high sorting costs and a lack of enforcement mechanisms. Moreover, there is no central database tracking medical waste. The study also uncovered irregularities in the recruitment process for waste management workers, with bribes of Tk 1-2 lakh reportedly exchanged for employment at government hospitals.