Realistic solutions key to addressing sustainable plastic management

Addressing plastic pollution demands practical and collaborative measures. Policies devised through public-private partnerships can protect the environment while ensuring economic prosperity, emphasised speakers at the "Policy for Progress: Building a Sustainable Bangladesh" roundtable discussion. 

The event, organised by the Policy Exchange Bangladesh, was held at a hotel in the capital on November 28th,2024. It focused on plastic waste management challenges and opportunities in Bangladesh and the need for realistic and implementable policies for green growth through sustainable plastic management. 

Speakers underscored that hastened bans are only viable solutions with cost-effective, reliable alternatives and a realistic transition timeframe. They pointed out that previous efforts to prohibit plastics fell short due to unrealistic expectations set on producers and consumers without ensuring timely interventions and capacity, causing economic disruptions instead of resolving the issue, such as the polythene ban 2002. 

Highlighting Bangladesh's growing plastic consumption, Dr M Masrur Reaz, Chairman and CEO of Policy Exchange Bangladesh, remarked, 'In 2005, per capita plastic usage was 3 kg, which rose to 9 kg by 2020. The rate is even higher in Dhaka, where residents consume 24 kg annually. The Ministry of Environment is working on an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy under the 2021 Solid Waste Management Rules, which is a step in the right direction.  A list of single-use plastic (SUP) items is being prepared for a planned ban. However, without addressing the associated environmental and economic challenges, assessing the impact, and understanding the capacity and alternatives necessary, such policies may have unintended adverse consequences. Multifold industries will be impacted with consecutive effects on livelihoods and economic factors.'

Shamim Ahmed, President of Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BPGMEA), stated, 'Immediate SUP bans cannot provide solutions for a country like Bangladesh where many vulnerable people depend on this supply chain. Identifying what SUP entails and researching the impact of phasing out these plastics will be crucial to policymaking. Additionally, prioritising implementable EPR policies can be considered a route to manage the threat posed by SUPs. Local governments must lead these efforts, which are pivotal in developing grassroots infrastructure and services.'

Maqsood Sinha, Co-founder of Waste Concern, also stressed the economic implications, saying, 'Effective and sustainable EPR policies are critical for economic stability. Given the current fragile economic state, further stagnation caused by unfeasible measures must be avoided.'

Emphasizing the need for long-term and community-driven initiatives, Debabrata Roy Chowdhury, Company Secretary and Head of Legal and Taxation at Nestle Bangladesh, noted, 'Strong waste management systems require more than legal and policy measures. In developed nations, public training and awareness initiatives play a vital role. A culture of recycling and reuse must be fostered, with all citizens included under the EPR framework along with the necessary infrastructure and capacity development.'

The Chief Sustainability Officer of DBL Group, Zahid Ullah, a former member of NBR Farid Uddin, the former Acting Chair of BIDA, Mohsena Yasmin, journalists Zakir Hossain of Samakl, Daulat Akhter Mala of Financail Express, Masud Rumee of Kaler Kantho, Marjan Nur of UK FCDO, Rabiul Islam from Asian Development Bank, and Mumit Hasan from Reverse Resources also spoke.

The discussion concluded with a call for greater stakeholder collaboration and dialogue to develop a practical, high-impact EPR structure. Speakers also highlighted the importance of public awareness and media engagement in combating plastic pollution through collective action.