Pollution from plastic waste remains a serious environmental issue for Bangladesh. The production and usage of polythene bags were outlawed by the Bangladesh government in 2002. But rather than reducing it, it increased the nation's consumption of polythene. Major catastrophes may result from the unauthorized use of any plastic.
Dhaka collects around 646 tons of plastic garbage every day, which is 10 percent of all wastes generated in Bangladesh. Only 37.2 percent of the plastic waste in Dhaka is recycled, according to the World Bank report.
The majority of used plastic cannot be recycled as it is not properly collected from homes and dustbins. One of the main causes of plastic pollution in rivers and other bodies of water is the careless disposal of plastic bottles, sachets, single-use kitchenware and personal care items, and water and soft drink containers.
Health risks are associated with plastic. Although it does not decay, the plastic that is frequently used in beverage bottles and food packaging crumbles into particles that you would not even notice.
“Plastic pollution is one of the most harmful substances in the environment that causes respiratory diseases,” said Professor Kamaluddin Ahmed, acting vice-chancellor of Jagannath University.
Plastic clogs sewerage lines, ruins beaches, and pollutes other landscapes as it takes hundreds of years to degrade. This waste is often transported through waterways into the sea via normal rainfall or flooding, and poses serious danger to marine life and coral reefs, with knock-on effects for fisheries, food security and tourism.
According to Professor Dr. Hafiza Khatun, Vice-Chancellor of Pabna Science and Technology University, "to prevent plastic pollution, it is not enough to have a policy, but to implement that policy."
A number of nations have taken action to address the plastic issue. Bangladesh need to take stern action to control the usage of plastics and protect the environment.
The government should apply fines so everybody follows the rule.
Recycling hasn't done much to address the issue, even in nations with sophisticated waste management systems, as only a small portion of plastic is successfully recycled, with the majority of it ending up in landfills.
Citizens are mostly responsible for managing plastic. The government should develop educational initiatives and campaigns to educate the public about the dangers of plastic trash.
Another option to lessen plastic pollution is through behavioral modification, but previous efforts to do so have failed. Using plastic bags is not the problem, the problem is people who dispose them haphazardly.
Young generations are more concerned about our planet’s future. Environmental groups or organizations can take an initiative to clean the streets in cooperation with college and university students.
