SINCE the interim government has undertaken its responsibility, it has made considerable efforts to reduce plastic use. Single-use plastic bottles have been banned at the chief adviser鈥檚 office. On August 27, 2024, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the environment, forest and climate change adviser pledged to take urgent initiative to make Saint Martin鈥檚 Island, Kuakata, and the Sundarbans free from single-use plastic and polythene. Bangladesh became the first country to impose a prohibition on the use of plastic bags in 2002. Since then, relevant laws, rules and legal practices have been introduced from time to time. However, in reality, the plastic pollution is worsening continuously due to a lack of proper monitoring and mismanagement.
According to a 2020 World Bank report, over 15 years, annual per capita plastic consumption has increased three times in urban areas of Bangladesh. Around 977,000 tonnes of plastic were consumed in 2020, but only 31 per cent were recycled. Dhaka solely generates 10 per cent of all waste generated in Bangladesh, which is about 646 tonnes. But only 37.2 per cent of the plastic waste in Dhaka is recycled. The average per capita plastic consumption in European countries is much higher than in Bangladesh. But Bangladesh is one of the top plastic polluted countries because of the plastic waste mismanagement. The Covid crisis had only deteriorated the situation due to the higher consumption rate of single-use plastic used in masks, gloves and personal protective equipment.
Single-use plastics include polythene bags, food packaging, plastic water bottles (polyethylene terephthalate), drinking plastic straws, plastic cotton buds, sachets, etc. Plastic bottles start breaking down after 500-700 years and plastic bags after 1,000 years in general natural condition. Tiny particles of plastic or microplastic decompose slowly, posing a significant risk to the human body as well as the ecosystem. Microplastics may cause serious health hazards like infertility, birth defects, cancer, etc.
Plastic is also responsible for water, air and soil pollution. In 2019, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development estimated that plastic products were responsible for 3.4 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions throughout their life cycles, and 90 per cent of these emissions came from the production of new plastic products. Mismanaged plastic waste clogs drains, which causes urban flooding.
听The plastic waste carried by rivers and generated in coastal regions is dumped into the Bay of Bengal, which poses risks to marine resources and biodiversity. Every year, millions of animals are killed by plastic, from birds to fish to other marine organisms. Nearly 700 species, including endangered ones, are known to have been affected by plastics. Plastic trapped in soil hampers the growth of plants and causes infertility of soil.
For the first time, in 2002, Bangladesh introduced prohibitions on the use of plastic bags under Section 6A of the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995 (amended in 2002). The government, through the ministry of environment, forest and climate change has the authority to ban on the manufacture, import, marketing, sale, demonstration for sale, stock, distribution, commercial carriage or commercial use of any kind of polythene shopping bag or any other article made of polyethylene or polypropylene in any specific region or all over the country.
In 2010, the Jute Packaging Act was enacted to protect the interests of jute producers and millers and to limit the use of environmentally harmful plastic bags. The government initially directed six commodities (namely paddy, rice, maize, wheat, fertiliser, and sugar) under this law to be packaged in jute sacks. Later, it was increased to 19 commodities. The offender may be punished with one year imprisonment and/or a fine of Tk 50,000 for using non-biodegradable synthetics for packaging of the mentioned product as per Section 14 of the said act. But these laws seem to have remained ineffective due to a lack of monitoring.
In 2019, the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association and other NGOs filed a writ petition asking for enforcing the existing legal ban on polythene/plastic bags in the High Court. The court directed the Department of Environment to enforce the ban by 2021. The present Environment, Forest and Climate Change adviser was one of the writ petitioners. The High Court also directed concerned authorities to ban single-use plastic in coastal areas and in all hotels and motels across the country. The Department of Environment in 2021 launched a three-year project through a gazette notification to stop the use of single-use plastic in 40 upazillas of 12 coastal districts and eight local areas of the Chattogram metropolis.
The government also formulated Solid Waste Management Rules 2021, where they launched the National 3R (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) Strategy for proper management of solid waste. This rule also included extended producers responsibility for the first time in Bangladesh, which assigns producers鈥� responsibility for the end-of-life of products.
Bangladesh is also committed to eliminating and reducing plastic pollution within its border and international context, aligning with several international conventions like the Global Plastic Action Partnership, Basel Convention, International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, etc. Bangladesh is a party to the Sustainable Development Goals as well, which prioritise responsible consumption and production to create a sound, healthy environment (Goal 12).
Despite being one of the pioneering countries to enact laws to ban plastic bags and many other efforts, Bangladesh has failed to bring the desired positive changes. The continued use of single-use plastics is not only degrading the environment but also impacting public health and overall growth. As we revisit the relevant laws in 2024, it is clear that effective legal enforcement, collective efforts of all and sustainable alternatives are key to making meaningful impact. The authorities must implement existing laws strictly, ensuring penalties for non-compliance. Public awareness campaigns need to be arranged to educate consumers about the environmental benefits of using alternatives like cotton and jute bags. These are not only biodegradable but also reusable and durable.
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Nazia Zarin Orna studies law at Dhaka University.
