Under pressure: Can Bangladesh swim past plastic?

One of my fondest projects of my pre-teen years was when I decided that it was high time, I had a private swimming pool of my own. So, with a deliberate mind and a nonexistent plan, I started digging the garden behind my family's flat. I even managed to find a sturdy spade, although I do not recall how. What I do remember is digging for hours only to have my spade get frequently stuck in plastic bags buried in the ground.

It was frustrating but I was determined, and I doubt my 11-year self hardly paid any mind to the plastic in my way. 16 years later, I am finally able to understand the intensity of the plastic problem I was blissfully unaware of all those years ago. Unfortunately, I think the situation has only gotten worse with time.

So, when two weeks ago (on 9 September), I read that super shops would not be allowed to use single-use plastic bags from 1 October and instead would have to offer cloth or jute alternatives to customers, as mentioned by the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser, it made sense. The advisor - Syeda Rizwana Hasan - also briefly suggested that widespread public and media campaigning will follow in the following weeks with a fair to be held by 30 September to ensure the manufacturers are made aware of the eco-friendly alternatives.

An average person in Dhaka uses about six kilograms of plastic per year, which is nothing compared to Japan where per capita plastic consumption is approximately 71.2kg per year but what Japan seems to be doing better is it is managing its plastic far better than we are

As good as it sounds on paper (and equally commendable, if I might add), I had certain concerns about this initiative. 

First of all, I was slightly disappointed at how little comprehensive information about the ban I could find. If a ban like this were to succeed, it needed thorough planning and frankly, a to-do guide accompanied by a comprehensive frequently-asked-questions list. Not because it is a topic we have never heard of before, but because it is an enemy as old and recurrent as Sauron was to Middle Earth and we need to have a solid battle plan if we are to defeat the enemy.  

The plastic problem is a very real worry for Bangladesh. The country ranks very high in terms of plastic pollution in the world. We generate almost 600k tons (579,900 tons) of plastic waste every year with around 336k tons generated in Dhaka itself. Most of these plastics are mismanaged with only 5% of the plastic waste reaching formal landfill sites​.

To put this in perspective, Germany is accused of mismanaging about 1% of its plastic waste, compared to the staggering 95% in Bangladesh. You would think that means we consume a lot more plastic than other countries then, right? Surprisingly, that is not the case.

For a single-use plastic ban to succeed long-term, both businesses and consumers need time to adapt. Businesses prioritise profit, while consumers seek affordability, so a gradual phase-out is more effective than a sudden ban.

An average person in Dhaka uses about six kilograms of plastic per year, which is nothing compared to Japan where per capita plastic consumption is approximately 71.2kg per year but what Japan seems to be doing better is it is managing its plastic far better than we are.

This mismanagement in Bangladesh is rampant because we lack regulations. To date, Bangladesh has taken several initiatives to reduce plastic pollution. The country was one of the first countries in the world to introduce a ban on plastic in 2002 in an attempt to mitigate flooding issues.

In 2020, the High Court banned single-use plastic in hotels and motels in the coastal areas alongside the rest of the country. The government also took a national action plan intending to recycle, phase out, and reduce plastic waste generation by 2025, 2026, and 2030 respectively.

Even with that, due to leniency from the authorities and a casual disregard for laws by the wider population, Bangladesh remains one of the top 10 plastic pollution hotspots in the world and single-use plastic continues to be an adamant part of our ever-increasing list of national problems. And that is part of the reason I felt wary of the swift resort to yet another ban on plastic.

Plastic is beyond just yet another 'problem', it has also been a promise of financial stability and economic mobility that we just cannot deny. So, a ban might not be in the best interest of the people currently employed by the sector, unless the ban addresses how it will justly transition these workers to a greener sector

Truth be told, at the same time, I feel hopeful too as single-use plastic bags have often been flagged as the number one reason for pollution in the country so, limiting their usage will help to some extent. But when doing so, we must not forget that time and again, bans are not successful because they are rarely well thought through and often used as a tool to be politically performative. 

For a single-use plastic ban to succeed long-term, both businesses and consumers need time to adapt. Businesses prioritise profit, while consumers seek affordability, so a gradual phase-out is more effective than a sudden ban.

Denmark, for instance, imposed a plastic bag tax in 1993 which resulted in a significant reduction in the country's plastic use and as of 2020, the country had one of the lowest plastic bag consumption rates in Europe with only four plastic bags being used per capita annually.

In England, a small charge on single-use bags in supermarkets saw a drastic drop in its use in just six years and between 2015 and 2021, the country saw a 95% drop in plastic bag usage in supermarkets. And it's not just the 'developed' countries getting it right—plenty of others are winning the fight against plastic, too!

In South Asia, several countries have also made significant strides in tackling plastic pollution. Mumbai's 2019 plastic ban, coupled with public awareness campaigns, led to a drastic reduction in plastic use, while Sri Lanka's 2017 ban on single-use plastics has shown early signs of success through increased recycling rates and alternative product use.

Even though some countries are quick to propose bans in their race to be environmentalists, the key might lie in a more subtle, deliberate approach, much like Bhutan's where through its zero-waste strategy, the country adopted strict regulations and cultural practices to reduce plastic waste, achieving an impressive 70% recycling rate.

These examples show that with the right approach - often a harmonious blend of sound government initiatives, best business practices, and ethical consumer habits - change is possible.

But when making such a change, it must be ensured that it is 'just' for everyone.

Ever since the country dipped its toes in the plastic industry in the 1960s, it has steadily grown, employing around two million people. For them, plastic is not just another monster requiring slaying, it is their livelihood.

These workers, skilled and trained in their craft, are not only very good at their job, but they also contribute to both the domestic and global economy. Bangladesh's plastic sector is worth about $3 billion a year and the country earned about $150 million from plastic exports in 2021-22.

The government will need to ensure that businesses have the resources and incentives to transition to eco-friendly alternatives, while consumers must be encouraged to embrace these changes through campaigns and accessible, affordable options. And, we have such options readily available as well

So, plastic is beyond just yet another 'problem', it has also been a promise of financial stability and economic mobility that we just cannot deny. So, a ban might not be in the best interest of the people currently employed by the sector, unless the ban addresses how it will justly transition these workers to a greener sector.

The ban should also clarify what happens to the single-use plastic bags already produced or in production. Do they end up in landfills, or incinerators, or bide their time to jump back into the market in a few months?

As the October deadline approaches, I find myself eagerly waiting for a comprehensive government strategy (a lot already exists) for this particular ban to work. The proposed ban on single-use plastics could be a defining moment, but the real test will come in the months and years that follow.

For this ban to make a meaningful impact, it must be accompanied by strong enforcement, public awareness, and a clear plan for supporting those who depend on the plastic industry for their livelihood. If we have learned anything from past efforts, it is that the success of such initiatives hinges on collaboration.

The government will need to ensure that businesses have the resources and incentives to transition to eco-friendly alternatives, while consumers must be encouraged to embrace these changes through campaigns and accessible, affordable options. And, we have such options readily available as well.

For example, Sonali Bag, a biodegradable single-use plastic alternative - could be a wonderful go-to which would be warmly welcomed by consumers if marketed wisely. However, the bags' relatively high cost (Tk8-10 apiece) compared to polythene (Tk3-5 per kg) is a challenge that could be overcome by substantial investment to scale up plastic alternatives.

But a policy alone won't solve the problem—it will take sustained pressure from both the public and the media to hold stakeholders accountable.

Bangladesh's plastic problem did not emerge overnight, and it is not a problem exclusive to our country either so it is safe to say that it will not be solved quickly. But the new ban under the new leadership offers an opportunity to finally address one of the country's most persistent environmental and public health challenges.

We cannot just sit back and take a 'not in my backyard' approach to this problem because a recent study found that 81% of tap water samples collected worldwide contained plastic pollutants which means that an average human probably is ingesting between 3000 and 4000 microparticles of plastic from tap water per year.

Unless of course, you can afford to drink imported Himalayan Spring water every day which still might contain traces of microplastic (sorry!). 

So, it is up to all of us—policymakers, businesses, everyday citizens, and aspiring pool diggers—to ensure that this ban does not just remain yet another political gesture, but a genuine step toward a cleaner, more sustainable future. If not for ourselves, we must at least think of the Nemos, Flounders, Baileys, and Spongebobs who could not be more thankful if they did not have to get entangled and chemically burned in our plastic waste on their daily commute. And come on, do not let a nostalgic adult's thousand-word manifesto just go to waste, please? After all, I had several panic attacks in the process of writing this article.

Marzana Tasnim. File Photo: Courtesy

Marzana Tasnim, an aspiring Newt-Hagrid hybrid, is a sustainability graduate quietly advocating for the planet and its nonhuman inhabitants