1.2 million tonnes plastic waste imported in 3 years: study

Dhaka, 15 February, 2021: Around 1.2 million tonnes of illegal plastic waste was shipped to Bangladesh in three years from the United Kingdom and the United States while agencies concerned remain indifferent over such illegal imports, unveiled a study on Thursday.

Environment and Social Development Organisation in cooperation with the International Pollutants Elimination Network conducted the study on ‘Toxic plastic waste: situation of disposal, management and trade in Bangladesh.’

The green organisation ESDO in the report launching event said that the study was conducted based on secondary information and it was found that 1.1 million tonnes of plastic waste were shipped from the UK and the rest came from the USA while a nominal quantity arrived from other developed countries.

The ESDO expressed concern over the import of plastic waste and urged the government to impose a ban and its strict compliance to protect the environment and the health of the people.

The ESDO also demanded proper management of locally produced plastic and other non-biodegradable wastes and suggested that steps should be taken to make Bangladesh a zero waste country.

Waste import is prohibited in Bangladesh as per the import policy.

ESDO chairperson Syed Marghub Murshed appealed to consider the gravity of the danger related to plastic waste trade as it is hampering the ecosystem of the Bay of Bengal and would eventually affect Bangladesh and sustainable development.

He urged the government to take immediate steps to stop illegal plastic waste trade and its movement across the country.

In Bangladesh, on an average, 3,000 tonnes of plastic waste, 12 per cent of the total wastes, is generated every day, which stays in mixed-up forms as there is no plastic waste collection and management system in place in the country.

Among the collected plastic waste only 70 per cent is recycled, according to official claims.

ESDO secretary general Shahriar Hossain said that more than 4,000, including 150 toxic chemicals, are detected in plastic products which harm both the humans and the environment.

Executive director of ESDO, Siddika Sultana, asked the government to promote cost-effective alternatives to single-use plastic and enforce a legal framework alongside Basel Ban Amendment, UNEA resolution and Bangladesh Import Policy Order 2015-18.

Plastic shipping to Bangladesh has increased as China, once the major receiver of the waste, banned 32 types of waste including plastic.

ESDO technical adviser Mokhlesur Rahman, former additional IGP, IPEN South Asia coordinator Tripti Arora spoke among others.

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Posted by admin on Feb 15 2021. Filed under News at Now, No Plastic, No Toxic, Zero waste. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry