Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun on Sunday said a separate cell would be set up in the ministry to work on setting up a circular economy.
“The cell will work closely with government and non-government departments and organizations,” he said at a seminar titled "Current Scenario of Circular Economy: Problems and Prospects," organized by Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industries (FBCCI).
He said recycling plays a pivotal role in the development of a circular economy.
The minister added that the size of informal recycling is huge, and giving them the status of an industry would facilitate the shift to a circular economy.
Speaking as the special guest, Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin Ahmed said 40% of plastic is being recycled at present. “The remaining 60% also must be recycled.”
He said his ministry has taken an initiative to prepare a working paper on plastic management.
FBCCI President Md Jashim Uddin emphasized the development of a circular economy for sustainable development.
He said unplanned consumption of natural resources is increasing worldwide along with economic development, which is worsening climate change and global warming.
“Conservation of the climate and biodiversity, prevention of waste and environmental pollution have become major challenges for the next generation. In such a situation, the development of a circular economy is very important,” he added.
The circular economy model combines production and consumption. The best use of resources can be ensured through waste management and recycling, which reduces carbon emissions and pollution.
“So the circular economy is an effective tool for achieving sustainable growth,” he said.
The FBCCI president also said no one in the world now considers waste unnecessary. “Waste of one industry is being considered as resources for another industry.”
He mentioned that Bangladesh aims to achieve the SDGs by 2030, become an upper middle-income country by 2031 and a developed country by 2041.
“Achieving these goals requires ensuring sustainable use of resources, and that is why the development of a circular economy is very important.”
He said the country has opportunities to include the construction industry as well as the textile, motor vehicle, logistics, agriculture, furniture, oil and gas, renewable energy sectors in the circular economy.
“The annual per capita plastic consumption in Bangladesh is only 7-8kg. In the United States, the amount is 130kg. The country is turning plastic waste into a resource through recycling,” he added.
The FBCCI chief further said countries of the European Union are at the forefront in implementing the circular economy.
“The European Commission has already drawn up a circular economy action plan. China, Brazil, Canada, the United States and Japan are also working to shift to a circular economy. Bangladesh needs to take the same initiative,” he said.
Jashim further said waste has to be segregated at the source to enable efficient recycling. “But there is no dumping zone in
Bangladesh where waste can be segregated.”
Dr Mohammad Sujauddin, assistant professor of North South University, presented the keynote paper at the seminar.
The paper identified the huge potential for a circular economy in Bangladesh. A large amount of waste is collected and recycled informally in the country and it is trending upward.
The formal recognition of this sector would make the development of the country's circular economy more dynamic, it said.
During the panel discussion, Eun Joo Allison Yi, senior environmental specialist of the World Bank, said the growth of Bangladesh in the last 10 years is incredible.
“But now is the time to decide whether to move towards eco-friendly growth, because the depletion of resources will not only jeopardize our health and growth, but also put our future at extreme risk,” he said.
For sustainable growth, he said the government needs to invest more in building the capacity and awareness of government agencies.
Prof Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain, of Chittagong University, Prof Dr Mizan R Khan, deputy director of International Centre for Climate Change and Development, and East West University Prof Dr AK Enamul Haque, FBCCI panel advisor, also participated in the panel discussion.
They said a close relationship between academia, industry and regulators was needed for the proper implementation of the circular economy.
FBCCI Senior Vice President Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu, Vice President Md Amin Helaly, Md Habib Ullah Dawn and other directors were present.
FBCCI Secretary General Mohammad Mahfuzul Hoque moderated the seminar.