To say that disposable plastic has become an inextricable part of our lives would be an understatement. From shopping bags to straws, the proliferation of single-use plastics has rapidly become an environmental concern for the world, and Bangladesh is no exception.
Approximately 10% of the total waste generated annually in our country consists of plastic products. Among this plastic waste, 48% ends up in landfills, while 37% is reused in some form, and about 12% of that finds its way into canals and rivers, posing environmental hazards, a considerable portion given the fragility of our water bodies.
While stopgap solutions such as recycling are much touted, the fact is that only a small percentage of plastic waste in the world ever gets recycled. It is nothing short of disappointing that, despite single-use plastic being banned a very long time ago, we have completely failed to have any success in reducing our plastic pollution.
While most definitely a global problem, Bangladesh has lagged far behind in tackling plastic pollution. One of the key components which contribute to this is the improper disposal of plastic products, which in turn is a symptom of our incredibly inefficient waste management system, with plastic waste generated often being visible on our very streets.
This is not a problem we can sweep under the rug any longer.
The government, with the help of both the public and private sector, need to formulate coordinated efforts which not only seek to reduce our plastic pollution but also pivot away from depending on single-use plastics and plastic products in general. A better use of plastic, for example, would be in building roads -- it is cheaper, more durable, and more importantly, cleaner than asphalt.
When it comes to matters of environmental integrity, Bangladesh has come far in the last few years. Ditching plastic needs to be made a higher agenda, to that end.
