Given the inexpensive and convenient nature of plastic, it is no big surprise just how ubiquitous it has become in the past century. However, it is that same ubiquity that has allowed plastic pollution to become a global problem, a problem that Bangladesh needs to find a way out of.
Back in 1950, global plastic production was a mere 1.5 million tons. Today, that figure stands at a jaw-dropping 359 million tons a year. Much noise gets made about the efficacy of recycling, but the fact is, a mere 9% of plastic waste in the world gets recycled.
But the government's recent announcement that it plans to introduce a circular economy method and extended producer responsibility to minimize plastic pollution is a great step in the right direction that has the potential to not only popularize plastics recycling but also hold producers accountable.
As part of four targets which have been set in the multi-sectoral action plan for plastic management, reducing single-use plastics by 90% stands to make a great impact in Bangladesh. For too long, Bangladesh has lagged behind in the global push-back against plastics -- the vast amount of plastic waste generated and disposed of improperly is visible to any casual observer. Our drainage system is frequently clogged with plastic, for example, which exacerbates our country's already immense flooding problem.
A circular economy approach, to that end, can drastically cut down on such haphazard waste by giving new life to waste plastics through technology that could transform the problem of mounting waste plastic.
This initiative needs to be implemented without fail.
However, it must be remembered that plastic pollution is hardly limited to the waste or even problems that we can see with the naked eye. After all, microplastics are ending up in the air we breathe and the food we eat, which have severe long-term consequences for our health.