Bangladesh, a highly populated country of over 170 million people, is facing enormous environmental challenges due to rapid urbanization, industrialization, and insufficient waste treatment infrastructure. The indiscriminate generation of garbage poses significant threats to public health, ecosystems and the environment, as evidenced by unregulated disposal, inadequate segregation, and defective recycling infrastructure. A considerable amount of waste, including organic matter (60-70%), plastics, paper and textiles, goes uncollected or is improperly dumped in informal landfills, aquatic bodies or open dumps. The problem is exacerbated by a lack of systematic waste segregation at the source, resulting in inefficiencies in trash processing and recycling.
The environmental and social repercussions of indiscriminate waste disposal are significant. Toxic pollutants, including greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as carbon dioxide and methane, are released through open disposal and combustion, aggravating the negative effects of climate change. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas produced by the decomposition of organic waste in landfills, has a 25-fold greater potential to worsen global warming than carbon dioxide. The Matuail and Aminbazar landfills in Dhaka, which are poorly maintained in Bangladesh, are one of the major sources of methane emissions. Furthermore, the accumulation of plastic garbage in drainage systems exacerbates urban waterlogging, a major concern in a country already prone to monsoon-related flooding. Soil and groundwater contamination caused by improper waste disposal contributes to the development of diseases such as dengue and cholera. Direct contact with toxic materials poses a significant health danger to disadvantaged individuals, particularly waste collectors.
The challenges of waste management in Bangladesh, a country very vulnerable to climate change, are exacerbated by unreliable rainfall, rising temperatures, and recurring cyclones. For example, the Buriganga and Turag rivers in Dhaka are contaminated by uncollected waste that enters the waterways during heavy rains. This pollution increases the vulnerability of natural defenses to climate change by changing aquatic habitats and causing biodiversity loss.
In contrast, poor waste management exacerbates climate change. The development of new materials to replace non-recycled garbage increases energy consumption and emissions, whereas the unregulated breakdown of organic waste and plastic cremation produces greenhouse gases.
Mitigating waste-related emissions is critical for a country that wants to satisfy its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. Efficient waste management can considerably help Bangladesh achieve its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), which targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 20% by 2030. The country is dealing with the consequences of climate change, such as rising sea levels, recurring flooding and severe weather events, while contemporary, environmentally friendly recycling systems offer a compelling adaptive solution.
Bangladesh uses innovative recycling technologies to address both waste management and climate change. These technologies reduce landfill use, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and generate economic opportunities by converting trash into useful resources. Decentralized systems, such as community-based garbage collection and segregation units, can alleviate the burden on municipal authorities. The "Waste Concern" initiative in Dhaka is a promising effort that involves communities in the separation of organic and inorganic waste at the source. Organic waste can be composted to produce fertilizer, lowering methane emissions from landfills. Recyclable materials, such as paper and plastic, can be reused.
Bangladesh could benefit from developing technology, such as chemical recycling and waste-to-energy (WTE) systems. Chemical recycling helps to produce high-quality recycled materials by degrading polymers into their molecular elements. Waste-to-energy (WTE) plants use controlled incineration to convert non-recyclable waste into energy, generating power while reducing reliance on landfills. A pilot WTE initiative by BPDB in Keraniganj, Dhaka, demonstrated the ability to generate electricity and process lots of solid waste each day. Implementing a circular economy model, which includes the reuse, refurbishment and recycling of commodities, can help to reduce waste accumulation. Bangladesh's textile industry, which contributes significantly to the country's economy, might adopt circular practices by recycling textile waste. Companies such as DBL Group have begun to investigate such models to reduce the requirement for basic materials as well as production-related emissions.
Improving policy enforcement and establishing national awareness campaigns can help encourage sustainable waste management methods. In 2022, the government implemented a ban on single-use plastics in coastal areas, which represents a positive step forward. Nonetheless, public education and more comprehensive execution are required. Initiatives involving local media, institutions and community leaders can help progress waste segregation and recycling efforts.
Innovative recycling technologies in Bangladesh encounter hurdles, notwithstanding their promise. Public budgets may be burdened by substantial initial costs associated with technologies such as waste-to-energy facilities, which need significant investment. Individuals and organizations' unwillingness to change their behavior may impede the use of segregation and recycling systems. Bureaucratic inefficiencies continue to impede coordination among government agencies, the corporate sector and communities.
Bangladesh may be able to overcome these obstacles by leveraging global best practices. Effective legislation, public awareness, and modern infrastructure have enabled countries such as Sweden and South Korea to attain higher recycling rates. International investment, as demonstrated by the Green Climate Fund, can facilitate technology implementation, and capacity-building projects can improve local governance.
The writer is Principal Officer, Bangladesh House Building Finance Corporation
