A unique initiative, the “Plastic for Goods Campaign,” is currently underway at the Ramu Buddhist Temple grounds to combat plastic pollution.
Bidyanondo Foundation organizes this program, allowing Ramu’s residents to “shop with plastic.” Around 300 underprivileged families exchange plastic waste for essential goods. This drive has collected over three metric tons of plastic so far.
A prominent national recycling company has struck a deal to ensure the recycling of 100% of the collected plastic. To raise public awareness about plastic pollution, we will use part of the recycled material to construct a “plastic sculpture” at Cox’s Bazar beach.
A bustling marketplace filled with essential items has transformed the vast temple grounds on Cheranghar Road in Ramu. At a higher-than-usual rate, people can exchange plastic for these goods: typically, 1 kg of plastic fetches Tk20-Tk30, but here, it’s worth Tk50-Tk80.
For example, you can trade 1 kg of plastic for 1 kg of rice or six eggs. Participants can select from around 19 essential products, fostering community involvement in an environmentally friendly and impactful way.
Photo: Rajin Saleh
