Golam Rabbi, a resident of New Eskaton, Dhaka, engaged in a dispute with an attendant at the cash counter of a Shwapno super shop outlet in the area over a Tk 11 charge for a jute bag. The altercation arose after the government banned the use of polyethylene bags in such shops from October 1, 2024. Ultimately, Rabbi left the outlet without purchasing grocery items worth about Tk 1,300, upset by the Tk 11 charge for the jute bag. The sales operators tried to explain by showing him the government order banning plastic bags in super shops, but he remained unconvinced. Bangladesh seeks climate justice: Syeda Rizwana Hasan Incidents like this are becoming common as sales operators now supply fish, meat, and other frozen items in paper bags instead of polybags following the government's embargo on plastic bags in super shops. Bangladesh generates about 87,000 tonnes of single-use plastics annually, much of which ends up as waste. As a result, the government has begun enforcing a ban on single-use plastics as part of broader efforts to reduce plastic waste, starting with grocery bags. Experts said that Bangladesh has been grappling with a significant plastic pollution problem. The country's rapid industrialization and growing population have increased demand for plastic products. This, coupled with inadequate waste management infrastructure, has led to widespread plastic pollution, particularly in urban areas and waterways, they added. In response to this issue, the interim government issued a gazette notification on August 27, 2024, to phase out single-use plastics (SUP) in 17 sectors, in accordance with an order from the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change issued on June 20, 2024. The notification instructs immediate implementation of the ban to protect the environment and reduce pollution. Stakeholders Shamim Ahmed, President of Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPGMEA) told UNB that an inter-ministerial meeting is a must before issuing such an order banning SUP in 17 sectors, otherwise, 6000 industries will be heavily affected and thousands of labour would be unemployed. “Government officials attended such meetings earlier without any home study on the issue, as a result, they (officials) do not understand what decision will be fruitful, and what the alternative of the plastic products is,” he pointed out from his long-time experience. Recently joined a workshop in Japan on plastic products and visited Singapore. BPGMEA President Ahmed said these developed countries of Asia are using plastic in every sector like Bangladesh. But they (Japan and Singapore) collect 100 percent of plastic waste and recycle it. He said considering inadequate supply, higher prices and lack of adoption capacity of plastic alternative sources, developed countries like Japan and Singapore cannot be successful in using the alternative of plastic so far. Most of the countries in the world are focusing on well management of recycling plastic waste, which is a good alternative so far, he said. Shamim Ahmed giving examples of the export-oriented and domestic consumption packaging sector said that packaging is not possible without Iodised salt that comes from plastic, edible oil packaging without plastic bottles and liquid milk packaging is impossible. The resolution adopted by the United Nations Environment Assembly on March 2, 2022, has focused on establishing effective recycling infrastructure considering the proportion of plastic in the circular economy globally. Proposal to manage plastic waste from stockholders- The BPGMEA has put forward a proposal to protect the environment and industries before the invention of suitable alternatives of plastic products. It suggested plastic waste into wealth by developing the right waste management plans for Bangladesh. Developing awareness among common people to dispose of plastic in a specific place, including textbook curriculum about waste management, setting up enough ‘BIN’ for plastic waste in different places including bus-rail stations, parks, and walkways. Shoppers back polythene ban, worry about alternatives Use Local Government Institute (LGI) to enhance knowledge adoption and supply equipment at subsidised rates for setting up plastic waste management plants in urban areas. Introduced plastic circularity for sustainable waste management, through which the government should arrange technology supply and provide loans at reduced interest rates for setting waste management plans in Bangladesh like other developed countries. Banning plastic production is not a solution, so Bangladesh should follow in this regard otherwise industry operation would be quite impossible. Such as food processing, Pharmaceuticals packages, hospital equipment, agricultural modernisation, and export packaging sectors would not run without plastic products. Banning steps will affect these industries heavily, said the industry stockholders. Statistics of plastic-related industries According to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) data published in 2021, SL Industry Sector Total industries Production value (TK) 1 Manufacturing of food products 9397  Tk1263747 million 2 Manuf of Beverages  37  Tk123330 million 3 Manufacturing of Tobacco products 181  Tk286171 million  4 Manuf. Of Chemical & chemical products 251 Tk121526 million 5 Pharmaceuticals, medicinal chemicals & Botanical products 149 Tk268624 million 6 Manuf. Rubber & plastic products 943 Tk661469 million   Client Opinion: Unilever Bangladesh, a leading fast-moving consumer goods producer is a big customer of many SUP products, which company is marketing its products in Bangladesh and globally in plastic packaging. This type of company is not a producer of plastic products, but Unilever is the customer for packaging its products as single-use plastic packets or bottles. Shamima Akhter, Director of Corporate Affairs of Unilever, told UNB that publishing a phase-out list of plastic products is appreciated. She, however, emphasised inclusive dialogue with stockholders for awareness and priorities of products for implementing the phase-out plan. Shamima said that Unilever is marketing with 1.3 million shop owners in Bangladesh for a large number of products that have been packaged in plastic products for as long as considering good quality ensuring products in plastic packaging. “If an alternative packaging system is developed at a reasonable rate, Unilever will use that, until the invention alternative, it is essential plastic packaging,” she pointed out. She also emphasised more research on it and focuses on recycling single-use plastic products considering its no alternative.

Plastic pollution has emerged as one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time, posing significant threats to both human health and the environment. As we observe World Environment Day today (June 5, 2023), it is crucial to shed light on the harmful effects of plastic pollution and raise awareness about the urgent need for action. This global observance serves as a timely reminder that the choices we make today have far-reaching consequences for the well-being of our planet and future generations. Harmful Effects of Plastic Pollution on Human Health Plastic pollution has become a major environmental concern in recent years, and its impact on human health is a growing area of research. Here are some of the harmful effects of plastic pollution on human health. Exposure to Microplastic Microplastics, small plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in size, have infiltrated various aspects of our lives, including our food and water sources. These tiny particles are found in high concentrations in the oceans, freshwater bodies, and even the air we breathe. Seafood, such as fish and shellfish, often contain microplastics due to their ingestion of plastic debris in the marine environment. As a result, when we consume these contaminated seafood, we unknowingly ingest microplastics. Read more: Effects of Air Pollution on Unborn Children, Neonates, Infants Microplastics can accumulate in our bodies over time, causing potential harm. These particles can pass through the intestinal wall and migrate to other organs, leading to inflammation, tissue damage, and disruption of normal cellular functions. Some studies suggest that microplastics may also have the potential to transport harmful chemicals and pathogens, further exacerbating health risks.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md. Shahab Uddin said on Thursday that efforts are underway to reduce single-use plastic by 90 percent within 2026 and increase recycling of plastic waste to 80 percent by 2030. “Following the government's sustainable plastic management action plan, efforts are being made to reduce the use of single-use plastic by 90 percent by 2026.  In addition, we’re planning to increase the recycling of plastic waste to 80 percent by 2030 and reduce the generation of plastic waste to 30 percent at that time”, said Md. Shahab Uddin. The minister made the remarks while addressing a seminar as the Chief Guest at Hotel Pan Pacific Sonargaon on solid waste management. The government has formulated a three-year action plan to stop the use of single-use plastic in coastal areas, said the minister, hoping that use of environment-friendly and biodegradable materials will be increased very soon. The goal of the government's National 3R policy for waste management is to completely eliminate waste disposal on open land, rivers, streams, canals and plains and to encourage waste recycling through mandatory separation of waste at source and to create a market for recyclable products, said the minister. Hoping that the country will be able to achieve a sustainable solution to the problem of solid waste in the near future, he said, “Pollution control requires law enforcement as well as the cooperation of the general public.” Secretary of the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Deputy Minister Habibun Nahar, Chairman of the parliamentary committee on the ministry Saber Hossain Chowdhury, secretary of the local government division Muhammad Ibrahim also spoke at the seminar. Read more: Monster made of plastic waste at Cox’s Bazar to spread awareness

Stakeholders will have to develop innovative and smart solutions for managing plastic waste in Bangladesh, LGRD Minister Md Tazul Islam said Saturday. "Waste collection is now not considered to be sustainable as it is still not viewed as a business proposition," he added while speaking at the seminar "Enabling policy for sustainable plastic waste management" in Dhaka. An effective solution would be the circular system, which ensures the consumption of plastic does not increase and moves towards a sustainable waste management model, Tazul said. "We must also empower the value chain actors and provide holistic support to the informal sector, comprising the micro-entrepreneurs, scrap dealers and waste pickers. This informal yet important sector must be facilitated and a proper structure should be developed for our own sake," he added. Read: Deal signed to set up waste-based power plant in Narayanganj "The government's Vision 2041 has incorporated plastic waste management in its sustainable urbanisation goals," Senior Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office Md Tofazzal Hossain Miah said at the programme jointly organised by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and Unilever Bangladesh. Unilever Bangladesh CEO and Managing Director Zaved Akhtar and FBCCI President Md Jasim Uddin also spoke.

Unilever Bangladesh and Circular, a social purpose-driven organisation involved in plastic waste management, have joined hands to collect 1,000 tonnes of plastic from Dhaka in the next year. The plastic wastes will be collected from Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka South City Corporation from June 2022 to May 2023. Read: Unilever Bangladesh launches Sustainability Report 2021 According to the World Bank data, less than 30 percent of the plastic waste produced in Bangladesh is collected and only 37 percent of the collected plastic waste is recycled while the remaining is landfilled, among which an estimated 24,032–36,047 tonnes are dumped in the river system. To prevent this environmental catastrophe caused by plastic waste pollution, Unilever Bangladesh believes it is important to build a sustainable circular loop that contributes to the circular economy and sustainable development goals (SDGs). The company has built multi-stakeholder models with diversified partners to collect 10,000 tonnes of plastic from the environment by 2023. Unilever and Circular will work together to build a sustainable and equitable reverse supply chain for the recovery of all kinds of post-consumer plastic waste. Circular's plastic collection model will help bring together the waste collectors, increasing the transparency and traceability of the supply chain. Also, it works at the household level to create awareness about the harmful effects of plastic pollution and the need for segregation at the source to recover all plastics to improve their recyclability.

Sustainable management of plastic waste and controlling the increasing trend of pollution is very crucial to ensure green growth for Bangladesh, said the World Bank.   A new report of the World Bank said the country’s annual per capita plastic consumption in urban areas tripled to 9.0 kg in 2020 from 3.0 kg in 2005. With rapid growth and urbanization, Bangladesh faced a sharp increase in both plastic use and pollution. The COVID-19 pandemic has escalated the problem of mismanaged plastic waste,” said Dandan Chen, World Bank Acting Country Director for Bangladesh. Also read: Global deal on plastic pollution is urgent: Speakers  “Going forward, sustainable plastic management—from designing a product, to minimizing plastic use, to recycling—will be critical to ensure green growth for the country. We commend the government’s commitment to implement a National Action Plan to beat plastic pollution," she said. The ‘Towards a Multisectoral Action Plan for Sustainable Plastic Management in Bangladesh’ report provides a blueprint for managing plastic pollution over the short term (2022–2023), medium-term (2024–2026), and long-term (2027–2030), which will require an integrated cross-sectoral approach. Bangladesh’s National Action Plan for Sustainable Plastic Management sets a target of recycling 50 percent of plastics by 2025, phasing out targeted single-use plastic by 90 percent by 2026, and reducing plastic waste generation by 30 percent by 2030 from 2020/21 baseline. The plan, which is aligned with the 8th Five-year plan, was based on needs collectively identified by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, Department of Environment, private sector, and other stakeholders. The Action Plan focuses on circular use of plastic based on a 3R strategy: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. A circular economy will help create new value chains, green skills, employment, and innovative products while addressing social and environmental challenges. The country’s annual per capita plastic consumption in urban areas tripled to 9.0 kg in 2020 from 3.0 kg in 2005. Dhaka’s annual per capita consumption of plastic is 22.5 kg, significantly higher than the national average. Also read: Government to implement an action plan for sustainable plastic management: Environment Minister COVID 19 pandemic has worsened plastic pollution, especially from single-use plastic used in masks, gloves, and Personal Protective Equipment. A large part of the plastic waste is dumped in water bodies and rivers, the report said. Bangladesh progressively took steps in curbing plastic pollution, with varied outcomes: in 2002, Bangladesh was the world’s first country to ban plastic shopping bags. However, after some time, plastic pollution increased again. The Jute Packaging Act 2010 for six essential items (paddy, rice, wheat, maize, fertilizer, sugar) promoted an alternative to plastic packaging. In 2020, the High Court directed concerned authorities to ban Single-Use Plastic in coastal areas and all hotels and motels across the country. “To implement the National Action Plan focusing on 3R strategy, commitment from all stakeholders, including citizens, the government, private sector, development partners, and citizens will be important,” said Eun Joo Allison Yi, World Bank Senior Environment Specialist, and co-author of the report. To implement the action plan, the report identifies policy reforms, technologies, infrastructures, investment, and institutional capacity-building needs. The report was prepared in collaboration with the Department of Environment and PROBLUE, a multi-donor trust fund.

The government is finalising a sustainable plastic management plan to build a plastic pollution-free Bangladesh, Environment Secretary Md Mostafa Kamal said Sunday. The initiative to build a plastic waste-free Bangladesh by implementing the 3R principle – reduce, reuse, recycle – will continue, Mostafa added. He was addressing the review meeting "Toward a Multisectoral Action Plan for Sustainable Plastic Management in Bangladesh" at the ministry. Now, 37 per cent of plastic waste is recycled. The action plan sets a target of recycling 50 per cent of plastics by 2025 and 80 per cent by 2030, reducing plastic waste production by 30 per cent by 2030, and avoiding single-use plastics by 90 per cent by 2026. At the meeting, the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) Jasim Uddin recommended banning the import of plastic waste from abroad. "The country's policy of reuse, recycling and reduction of plastic waste will not be useful if plastic waste is imported from abroad."

Plastic is choking Bangladesh's drains, canals, and rivers. Around 1,700 tonnes of plastic waste is produced in the country every day and only half of it is recycled, according to the Department of Environment. In Dhaka city alone, plastic waste has gone up more than 3.5 times from 178 tonnes per day in 2005 to 646 tonnes per day in 2020. Of that 646 tonnes, only 37 per cent is recycled, and mostly by the informal sector, according to the World Bank.  It is almost impossible to imagine a day without any use of plastic. Clogged drains, bags fluttering in the wind, masses of plastic piled in dumps, and road corners have become an everyday reality in Bangladesh.

The leading exhibitors from 19 countries are displaying their innovative, efficient and cost-effective products at the four-day virtual International Plastics, Printing & Packaging Industry Fair (IPF). Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPGMEA) and Yorkers Trade & Marketing Service Co are hosting the four-day fair that began on Monday (July 5, 2021). Also read: Bangladesh booth steals limelight at Seoul Int'l Tourism Fair 2021 The expo titled ‘IPF Online Expo’ will end on July 8 with an event on the sidelines titled ‘Export-led Plastic Sector Development Policy: Opportunities and Challenges.” BPGMEA President Shamim Ahmed, its adviser Manzur Ahmed, former senior secretary Shubhashish Bose, BPGMEA Vice President KM Iqbal Hossain, Managing Director of Luna Plastic Ind Ltd ASM Kamal Uddin and former BPGMEA President Ferdous Wahed will speak at the event. Also read: Virtual IPF, DTG trade exhibitions in July, August The organizers said the online expo is a good way for staying in touch with customers and partners worldwide, presenting products and innovations, networking from knowledge-sharing activities, and an important format for getting access to new contacts.

In the monsoon, waterlogging is one of the greatest concerns for city dwellers. It has been found that the majority of the waste that clogs the drainage are plastic bottles and plastic bags. Experts have attributed this to a lack of public awareness and good practice about the environment among city dwellers and said it would be impossible for the government or the city corporation to solve the waterlogging problem if people don’t take responsibility. To reduce the volume of plastic added  into the drainage system and raise awareness, Dhaka South City Corporation’s Ward-21 councilor Mohammad Asaduzzaman has set up a bottle-shaped plastic collection point at Dhaka University's TSC area, and likely to put another 7 bottle-shaped plastic collection points across the 21st ward of Dhaka South City Corporation. Also read: Plastic waste increases from 178 tons per day in 2005 to 646 tons in 2020 in Dhaka The placard attached to the bottle reads "Put the plastic waste inside the bottle and help put an end to water-logging." Contacted, councilor Mohammad Asaduzzaman told UNB, “Although WASA was supposed to clean the drain in the previous years, this year the responsibility has come on us. When we were conducting the drainage cleaning program, we noticed that plastic waste was mainly blamed for hindering water flow and logging in the drainage system. We have collected approximately one and a half thousand bottles from almost every manhole.” Also read: Fighting plastic pollution: EcoVia working to transform RMG waste “So, I planned to set up such a bottle-shaped waste bin to motivate people to throw away these bottles in a dustbin, it is possible to prevent unwanted waterlogging. I believe that a unique awareness program can motivate people in a positive way,” he added. He claimed that he personally sponsored full money for the project. “In a program sponsored by Coca-Cola, I saw that the whole stage was arranged in the shape of a Coke bottle. I thought my problem is also bottle centered so let’s do something with the bottle shape,” he explained.