Bangladesh's rapid urbanization has played a crucial role in driving economic growth, industrial expansion, and employment opportunities. As people migrate from rural areas in search of better livelihoods, education, and improved living standards, major cities such as Dhaka and Chattogram have expanded at an unprecedented rate. However, this unplanned urban growth has also led to a series of severe urban challenges, the most critical being water stagnation, inefficient waste management, and rising public health risks.
During every monsoon season, just a few hours of heavy rainfall is enough to flood major roads in Dhaka and Chattogram. Transport systems collapse, offices and educational institutions are disrupted, and daily urban life comes to a near standstill. Beyond public inconvenience, these recurring floods impose significant economic losses, costing the country millions each year. Although often labelled as natural disasters, the root causes are largely human-made. Unplanned urban development, encroachment of canals and water bodies, inadequate drainage infrastructure, and poor waste management practices have all intensified the crisis.
At the heart of the problem lies inefficient solid waste management. Despite the continuous generation of large volumes of waste, a significant portion is neither properly collected nor segregated or recycled. In many cases, waste is irresponsibly dumped into streets, drains, and canals, blocking drainage systems and preventing proper water flow. Dhaka generates approximately 6,500-7,500 tons of solid waste per day, while Chattogram produces around 2,500-3,500 tons.
Nearly 60-70% of this waste is organic in nature, including food waste and biodegradable materials. The remainder consists of plastics, paper, glass, and metals.
Due to improper disposal, this waste accumulates in open spaces, decomposes rapidly, and creates severe environmental hazards such as foul odor, pollution, and uncontrolled mosquito breeding. As a result, diseases such as dengue, malaria, chikungunya, and diarrhoea spread rapidly, particularly during the monsoon season when stagnant water becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
In this context, waste-to-energy (WTE) technology has emerged as a promising solution for Bangladesh. It enables the conversion of non-recyclable waste into electricity, heat energy, or biogas-simultaneously addressing both waste management and energy shortages.
Due to improper disposal, this waste accumulates in open
spaces,decomposes rapidly, and creates severe environmental hazards such
as foul odor, pollution, and uncontrolled mosquito breeding. As a
result, diseases such as dengue, malaria, chikungunya, and diarrhoea
spread rapidly, particularly during the monsoon season when stagnant
water becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Globally, several WTE technologies are widely used. Incineration involves burning waste at extremely high temperatures to generate steam, which drives turbines for electricity production. Anaerobic digestion breaks down organic waste in oxygen-free environments to produce methane-rich biogas. Gasification and pyrolysis convert waste into synthetic gas under limited oxygen conditions, which can also be used for energy generation. Many developed countries have successfully implemented such systems. Japan has developed advanced waste-to-energy facilities integrated into urban management systems. Sweden has achieved near-total waste recycling and energy recovery, even importing waste from other countries. Germany operates highly efficient incineration-based energy systems, while Singapore heavily relies on waste-to-energy plants due to its limited land availability.
Bangladesh also has strong potential in this sector. It is estimated that if the nearly 10,000 tons of daily waste generated in Dhaka and Chattogram are properly utilized, around 80-120 MW of electricity could be produced. This would contribute significantly to the national power supply and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. However, several challenges must be addressed. The lack of waste segregation at source remains a major barrier. High initial investment costs, technological limitations, and dependence on foreign expertise also hinder large-scale implementation.
Environmental concerns are another critical issue. Emissions such as dioxins and furans from incineration plants can pose serious health risks if not properly controlled.
Therefore, advanced filtration systems, strict environmental regulations, and effective monitoring mechanisms are essential. A public-private partnership (PPP) model could play a vital role in implementing WTE projects in Bangladesh. The government can provide land, policy support, and waste supply assurance, while the private sector contributes investment, technology, and operational expertise. Long-term power purchase agreements can further encourage private investment.
For long-term success, a phased implementation strategy is necessary. In the short term, priority should be given to improving drainage systems, restoring canals, and modernizing waste collection. In the medium term, pilot WTE plants can be introduced in major cities. In the long run, a national policy framework and integrated city-wide waste-to-energy systems should be developed.
In conclusion, the waterlogging crisis in Dhaka and Chattogram is not merely an infrastructural issue but a result of weak governance, unplanned urbanization, and poor waste management. Waste-to-energy technology presents a realistic opportunity to address waste disposal problems, energy shortages, and environmental pollution simultaneously.
With proper planning, effective implementation, modern technology, and active public participation, Bangladesh can transform its urban waste from an environmental burden into a valuable energy resource and emerge as a strong model for sustainable urban development in South Asia.
The writer is an Electrical, Energy and Safety Management Professional
