Due to the lack of proper waste management systems, Cox’s Bazar municipality discharges approximately 34.5 tons of plastic waste into the sea every day. A significant portion of this unmanaged plastic flows into the ocean through drains and canals, posing a serious environmental threat.
This alarming data was revealed in a 2024 survey conducted by Brac’s Baseline Study 2024. According to the study, only 18 per cent of residents in Cox’s Bazar separate their waste, while many remain outside the coverage of regular waste collection services.
The findings were highlighted at a national dialogue titled “Municipal Waste Management to Combat Plastic Pollution in Bangladesh ” held on Wednesday at the Intercontinental Hotel in Dhaka. The event was organized under BRAC’s “Plastic Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia” initiative.
Speakers at the dialogue emphasized the urgent need to reduce plastic pollution and enhance recycling efforts. They also called for increased public awareness and implementing modern waste management systems to address the growing environmental crisis.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Courtesy
