The scale of Bangladesh’s tannery waste problem is troubling, but there is certainly an economic opportunity hidden within it that we would be remiss to overlook.
Experts estimate that properly processing tannery waste and turning it into value-added products could generate an additional Tk2,000-3,000 crore in annual revenue.
This is precisely the kind of opportunity Bangladesh should be pursuing: One that can simultaneously address an environmental crisis, create new industries, generate employment, and also strengthen an important export sector.
For years, tannery waste has largely been treated as something to be disposed of rather than a resource to be recovered, and the consequences have been severe: Poorly managed waste has contributed to pollution around the Savar Tannery Industrial Estate, adding further pressure to already struggling waterways.
At a time when our rivers are being overwhelmed by industrial and other forms of waste, continuing with such a linear approach is simply unsustainable.
Yet, the materials currently being discarded have considerable potential.
Collagen-rich waste can be converted into products such as gelatin, industrial tallow, bio-fertilizer, and leather board, while chrome shavings and other by-products can have applications ranging from capsule shells to other industrial materials.
Even treatment-plant sludge has reportedly been used to produce tiles and bricks.
What is needed now is a serious transition towards a circular economy -- which will require investment in waste-processing facilities, green financing, appropriate incentives, research and development, and stronger links between waste processors and markets.
The government must also address the industry's environmental compliance problems. Environmental protection and economic growth should not be presented as opposing objectives; in this case, they can reinforce one another.
The opportunity before us is clear: Instead of allowing tannery waste to become another burden on our rivers and communities, Bangladesh should turn it into a valuable resource. Doing so would be good environmental policy -- and smart economics.