Realistic solutions key to addressing sustainable plastic management
Addressing plastic pollution demands practical and collaborative measures. Policies devised through public-private partnerships can protect the environment while ensuring economic prosperity, emphasized speakers at the roundtable discussion “Policy for Progress: Building a Sustainable Bangladesh”.
The event, organized by the Policy Exchange Bangladesh, was held at a hotel in the capital on Thursday, focusing on plastic waste management challenges, opportunities in Bangladesh and the need for realistic and implementable policies for green growth through sustainable plastic management.
Speakers underscored that hastened bans are not viable solutions without cost-effective and reliable alternatives with a realistic transition timeframe. They pointed out that previous efforts to prohibit plastics fell short due to unrealistic expectations set on producers and consumers without ensuring timely interventions and capacity, causing economic disruptions instead of resolving the issue such as the polythene ban in 2002.
Highlighting Bangladesh’s growing plastic consumption, Dr M Masrur Reaz, chairman and CEO, Policy Exchange Bangladesh remarked: “In 2005, per capita plastic usage was 3kg, which rose to 9kg by 2020. The rate is even higher in Dhaka, where residents consume 24kg annually. The Ministry of Environment is working on an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy under the 2021 Solid Waste Management Rules which are steps in the right direction. A list of single-use plastic (SUP) items is being prepared for a planned ban. However, without addressing the associated environmental and economic challenges, assessing the impact, and understanding the capacity and alternatives necessary such policies may have unintended adverse consequences. Multifold industries will be impacted with consecutive effect on livelihoods and economic factors.”
Shamim Ahmed, president, Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPGMEA) stated, ‘Immediate SUP bans cannot provide solutions for a country like Bangladesh where a lot of vulnerable people are dependent on this supply chain. Identifying what SUP actually entails and conducting research to understand the impact of phasing out of these plastics will be crucial to policy making Additionally, prioritizing implementable EPR policies can be considered a route to manage the threat posed by SUPs. Local governments must lead these efforts, as they are pivotal in developing grassroots infrastructure and services.’
Maqsood Sinha, co-founder, Waste Concern also stressed the economic implications, saying: “Effective and sustainable EPR policies are critical for economic stability. Given the current fragile economic state, further stagnation caused by unfeasible measures must be avoided.”
Emphasizing the need for long-term and community-driven initiatives, Debabrata Roy Chouwdhury, company secretary and head of Legal and Taxation, Nestle Bangladesh noted: “Strong waste management systems require more than legal and policy measures. In developed nations, public training and awareness initiatives play a vital role. A culture of recycling and reuse must be fostered, with all citizens included under the EPR framework along with the necessary infrastructure and capacity development.”
Chief Sustainability Officer of DBL Group Zahid Ullah, former member of NBR Farid Uddin, former acting chair of BIDA Mohsena Yasmin, journalists Zakir Hossain of Samakl, Daulat Akhter Mala of Financail Express, Masud Rumee of Kaler Kantho, Marjan Nur of UK FCDO, Rabiul Islam from Asian Development Bank, Mumit Hasan from Reverse Resources also spoke among others.
The discussion concluded with a call for greater stakeholder collaboration and dialogue to develop a practical, high-impact EPR structure. Speakers also highlighted the importance of public awareness and media engagement in combating plastic pollution through collective action.