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How our plastic waste turning into treasure

Published : Thursday, 11 January, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 1415
Arindam Bala
It is known to all; the plastic is a great contributor for environment deterioration that has currently reached at extreme level everywhere. While using plastic items they are considered as essential goods but when they arediscarded, they become waste. However, theplastic waste is whirling to resource througha recycling process.Recycling is part of global effort to reduce plastic in the waste stream."According to The World Bank 2021, "only 37.2 percent of the plastic waste in Dhaka is recycled."

Kamrnagirchor, Islambagh and Lalbagh of old Dhaka have turned to plastic recycling hub in Bangladesh. According to plastic recycling factory owners and workers of this area plastic waste is brought from whole country, and each factory recycles about three (3) tonnes of plastic waste every day. In the recycling process, there have been nine steps from waste collection to recycled plastic productsselling for instance-Step-1. Plastic waste collection, Step-2. Plastic waste sell and purchase (involved waste collectors and Bhangariwala). Step-3.

Plastic waste sorting or segregation based on types, color, softness and hardness,Step-4. Shredded by crushing machine, Step-5.Washing, Step-6.drying by traditionally and automation,Step-7. Granules produced (incineration), Step-8.Plastic items production by using injection molding and handmade machine,and Step-9.Products sellingto whole sellers& retailors and eventually users.

Due to connect several steps in the recycling process there has been created an astounding value chain where thousands of actors are playing role for accelerating the process, where producing all kinds of plastic items. In the huge employment, aroundtwenty-five lakh human resources are directly and indirectly involved, among them nearly fifteen percent is women, said engaged local entrepreneurs.

There are thousands of entrepreneurs, workers and waste collectors who are becoming economically benefitted, also helping our environmentin absent mind resulting environment health is boosting. If they could not these activities, so long Bangladesh wouldinundateunderneath plastic waste that could bring ominous for human being. These unsung heroesdo not have any acknowledgement and recognition, but they must deserve.We salute them.

Plastic recycling sectors have created many complications in this area. First and foremost, hundred percent factories production process is remaining far away from environment friendly production process because they usetraditional machine and process instead of advanced technology.Though there is no large factory, this area is covered with small and medium factories. Unorganized factories have created unavoidable high risk. Most of the factorys infrastructure extremely fragileas they are made of tin, bamboo, iron angle and semi paka. And from ground floor to four and even six floors most of the building are used for production process, warehouse of storing chemical, raw materials and recycled finished goods.Specially all injection molding, crushing and granules production machines have been set up from ground to second floors of the residential building. These electric operated machines have brought haphazard situationmany folds.  

In spite of these impediments, however, plastic recycling sector has brought many opportunities. It has emerged as outstanding revenue generating activities as well as environmentally sound. Production of recycled plastic items has opened new door for economic growth of our country. Production of bricks, pavement tiles, boards from plastic waste have yet not been produced in a broad sense in our country. If they can be made in large scale the advanced innovation brings great opportunity for many and must take care for environment as well as environment friendly construction.

Above all, we can categorically say that plastic recycling has started helping to conserve the environment, making it cleaner and greener. The concerned authority must take certainnecessaryinitiatives to promote the growing sector (plastic recycling). Relocation of these small and medium recycling factories from residential area in old Dhaka to elsewhere is demand of time.These factories have to give first priority instead of large companies for acquiring land otherwise thousandsfactory will be closed and owners and workers will lose working opportunity. Risk factors need to be identified and should be taken effective management.For ensuring environment friendly production process, TheMinistry of Industries and The Department of Environmentmust play pivotal role.In this sector research and education institute, law enforcement agencies, local government, community, employee groups, youth group, NGOsshould come forward for ensuring environment friendly production process because the existing process polluting air and water. To increase working skill and technical knowledge on green technology and existing machines workers need to be trained up and certified by registered institutions.A technical institution can be established for workers development of this particular sector. Entrepreneurs need also financial support as well as increase management skill.

As plastic production and use is not being stopped, and this hindrance in building green city, so plastic waste recycling volume has to be further increased. Environment friendlyproduction process has to be confirmed forensuring pollution free sustainable environment.It is reported that 32 percent Bangladeshi die annually to environment pollution and other relevant causes. So, no doubt preventing environment pollution is mandatory for keeping away environmental related diseases and safe human lives that will help to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)of Bangladesh as well as will ensure better tomorrow.

The write is working in plastic recycling sector


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