Due to lack of existence of eco-friendly means of addressing waste in the country, mainly in the big cities, the majority of these waste remain uncollected, said experts stressing on more effort on it to ensure a pollution free country.
And, with a view to creating a way out to this situation, Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) on Saturday initiated a pilot project entitled “Building Zero Waste Communities for a Pollution-free Environment in Bangladesh” thorough a virtual event.
Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation Md Atiqul Islam addressed the event as the chief guest while AKM Rafique Ahammed, director general, Department of Environment, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change was present as the special guest.
Md Atiqul Islam, appreciating such an environment friendly initiative, said that the DNCC will soon offer the city building owners with 10 per cent holding tax rebate if a person makes a garden in his /her rooftop.
A committee is under proceedings to work on it to certify such buildings having environment experts’ suggestions to get the capital Dhaka as a green city, he added, saying a total of 27 parks-- including four playgrounds -- will soon be opened for the city dwells.
The government is also working to install an eco-friendly power generation at the 52 acre Amin Bazar landfill using the waste there.
“It is very disappointing to see a huge amount of waste remains uncollected every day. I am really glad to know that ESDO has initiated a project regarding this issue. Dhaka North City Corporation will provide every possible assistance needed to run the project successfully,” the mayor added.
Dr AKM Rafique Ahammed stated that we all want a waste free place to live in, but very few contribute to keep the city clean. He believed that all should cooperate individually to make a clean and healthy environment.
Syed Marghub Murshed, ESDO’s chairperson and former secretary, chaired the event.
Every day Bangladesh generates 25,000 tons of solid waste in the urban areas with a huge amount of waste remains uncollected.
It is expected that waste production will be increased by 47,000 tons per day by 2025 while in 1995, per person, the average waste production rate was 0.49 kg/person/day, but this amount is projected to rise to 0.60 kg/person/day by 2025.
Zero waste is a set of principles focuses on waste prevention that encourages the redesign of product life cycles, so that they can be reused.
The project goal is no trash to be sent to landfills, incinerators, or the ocean.
Only 9.0 per cent of plastic is actually recycled while in a zero waste system, materials will be reused until the optimum level of consumption.
