Turning waste into wealth

Bangladesh, one of the most densely populated countries in the world, faces a rapidly escalating waste crisis. Bangladesh, with its rapid urban growth and economic expansion, faces a mounting waste crisis that threatens its environmental and public health resilience.

With a population of 170 million, Bangladesh generates approximately 33,500 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily. However, according to the Asian Development Bank, only 56 per cent of this waste is collected. The remaining waste is dumped illegally in open spaces, rivers, drains and canals, causing widespread pollution, water contamination, air quality deterioration and significant health hazards. This unchecked waste contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, soil degradation and vector-borne diseases, making it an urgent public health and environmental issue.

 

Municipal solid waste

MUNICIPAL solid waste encompasses everyday materials discarded by households, businesses and institutions, including biodegradable, recyclable and hazardous waste. It is not just the physical trash — it mirrors our consumption habits and priorities. In Bangladesh, around 70 per cent of the waste consists of organic materials, mainly food scraps, with the rest comprising plastics, paper, glass, metal and textiles. This composition presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Organic waste, for example, could be composted or converted into energy, but much of it is instead dumped into landfills, where it generates methane — a potent greenhouse gas responsible for accelerating global warming.

Despite notable economic progress, Bangladesh’s waste management infrastructure remains alarmingly underdeveloped, threatening to undermine the very development it has achieved. This crisis is more than just an environmental challenge — it intersects with public health, social equity, and climate resilience. With proper waste management, Bangladesh has the potential to turn this crisis into an engine of change that drives economic prosperity, improves public health and combats climate change.

 

The crisis waste management is feeding

BANGLADESH is already one of the most climate-vulnerable nations in the world, grappling with extreme climate events. Yet the country’s poor waste management practices are exacerbating the very crisis it seeks to fight. Open dumping and waste burning release methane and other greenhouse gases, contributing to both air pollution and global warming. Waste management is a critical yet underappreciated part of the broader climate change discussion.

Bangladesh’s waste generation is on the rise. According to Bangladesh Waste Database 2021, the per capita waste generation rate is projected to increase from 0.52 kg/day to 0.74 kg/day, pushing the country’s annual waste generation to nearly 51.2 million tonnes by 2041. These projections paint a clear picture: Bangladesh’s current waste management systems, already stretched thin, will be utterly incapable of coping with the impending surge unless drastic reforms are implemented.

This is not just a national problem. Globally, over 2.01 billion tonnes of solid waste are generated annually, and the World Bank estimates this figure could rise to 3.4 billion tonnes by 2050. This trend, if unchecked, poses grave environmental threats that transcend national borders, as waste mismanagement contributes to pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and resource depletion. Yet the solutions are within our reach — if the right actions are taken now.

 

The Achilles heel

THE introduction of policies like the National 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) Strategy in 2010 and the Solid Waste Management Rules of 2021 are commendable steps toward addressing Bangladesh’s waste crisis. With provisions like Extended Producers Responsibility, these initiatives reflect the government’s awareness of the gravity of the situation and its ambition to turn the tide. However, these policies remain largely ineffective, not only due to their content but also because of a lack of implementation.

The disconnect between policy formulation and execution remains a critical hurdle. Major bottlenecks are the lack of clear definitions and punitive measures for non-compliance. For example, while industries are required to reduce plastic waste and ensure proper disposal, there has been little in the way of actual penalties for companies that fail to meet these standards. The problem is exacerbated by an ad hoc enforcement system, where local governments tasked with waste management are underfunded and lack the technical expertise to implement these policies effectively. Corruption, bureaucratic inertia and a lack of accountability mechanisms further impede progress.

Moreover, the absence of sanitary landfills in Bangladesh has exacerbated the problem. As of 2024, Bangladesh still relies on environmentally damaging practices like open dumping and waste burning, which release hazardous substances into the air and water, posing serious health threats to local communities. The slow adaptation to engineered landfills and composting facilities is largely due to financial constraints and institutional inaction.

This challenge is not unique to Bangladesh; many developing nations face similar struggles in the gap between policy and action. However, solutions do exist. Decentralising governance and giving municipalities greater control over their waste management systems could help bridge the gap. Offering financial incentives to private waste management companies, such as tax rebates and subsidies, could also accelerate the adoption of sustainable practices. Countries like South Korea and Singapore have drastically reduced landfill waste through such measures and Bangladesh has the potential to follow suit.

 

Financing sustainable waste management

FINANCIAL sustainability is another significant barrier to effective waste management in Bangladesh. Municipalities struggle with budget constraints, low collection efficiency and high operational costs, leaving them ill-equipped to handle the growing waste crisis. One potential solution lies in public-private partnerships (PPPs), which can leverage the expertise and resources of the private sector to deliver waste management services more efficiently.

Bangladesh could encourage the adoption of green financial incentives to drive behavioural change. Such incentives would reward households and businesses with credits or discounts on their utility bills for reducing and recycling waste. Additionally, the program could offer feedback and education on waste management performance and practices.

Another promising approach is integrating waste management with other urban services, such as water, sanitation and electricity. By creating bundled service packages, municipalities can deliver essential services more efficiently and at a lower cost. The program can also involve the use of waste as a resource for other services, such as waste-to-energy, waste-to-water, waste-to-fertilizer, etc.

Results-based financing is a financial mechanism that links payments to specific waste management outcomes, encouraging stakeholders to operate efficiently and change their behaviour. In Nepal, the World Bank supported a project to bridge the gap between the costs of improving waste management services and the revenues gained from user fees.

 

Waste as a resource

TOO often, waste is seen as a burden, but it is, in fact, an untapped resource. The very systems that contribute to climate change can be transformed into solutions. Waste-to-energy projects, for example, could turn trash into electricity, reducing reliance on fossil fuels while managing waste.

Bangladesh is starting to explore this potential through projects like the Amin Bazar Waste-to-Energy initiative, which aims to produce 42.5MW of electricity by 2025. However, waste-to-energy technology is a double-edged sword: incineration, if not properly managed, can release harmful pollutants, such as dioxins and furans, as well as nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide, all of which can pose serious public health risks. Additionally, these plants can emit more CO2 per unit of electricity than coal-fired power plants, raising concerns about their environmental sustainability.

To mitigate these risks, waste-to-energy facilities must be equipped with state-of-the-art filtration systems and their location must be carefully planned to minimise the impact on densely populated urban areas like Dhaka, where air quality is already poor.

Moreover, waste-to-energy projects often require a constant and substantial supply of waste to remain economically viable, which can create a “lock-in” effect that discourages more sustainable waste management practices like recycling, waste reduction and composting. While waste-to-energy can contribute to sustainable waste management, it must be part of a multi-faceted strategy that prioritises emission controls and waste reduction.

 

Sustainable alternatives

COMPOSTING presents a more sustainable way to manage Bangladesh’s predominantly organic waste. With organic materials making up roughly 70 per cent of the country’s waste, composting could reduce methane emissions while providing valuable fertilisers for Bangladesh’s agricultural sector. Some countries, such as the Philippines, have successfully implemented innovative composting techniques using black soldier fly larvae to break down organic waste. These larvae convert waste into high-quality animal feed and fertiliser, presenting a scalable solution for Bangladesh.

Biorefineries offer another opportunity to transform waste into valuable products, such as biofuels and fertilizers. Countries like Sweden have successfully integrated biorefineries into their waste management systems, but scaling such initiatives in Bangladesh would require significant investment in both technology and infrastructure.

Bioreactor landfills offer another advanced method for stabilising waste, speeding up decomposition and allowing for resource recovery. However, they come with high initial costs and technical complexity and require long-term maintenance. Despite the high upfront costs, these systems have the potential to contribute to national energy security while reducing environmental harm.

Lastly, roads made from recycled plastic waste represent a promising solution for waste management and infrastructure development. India has already implemented plastic roads in several cities, proving their durability and their role in reducing plastic pollution.

 

Circular economy

BANGLADESH must shift toward a circular economy to truly address its waste crisis. The transition from a linear “take-make-dispose” economic model to a circular economy is essential for sustainable waste management. Countries like the Netherlands are leading the way in implementing circular economy models that extend the lifecycle of products and reduce waste. In Bangladesh, transitioning to a circular economy would require systemic changes in production, consumption and waste disposal practices.

However, applying circular economy principles must consider the economic realities of lower-income groups, where affordability and convenience often trump sustainability. The government could provide tax breaks or subsidies to businesses that adopt sustainable practices, making eco-friendly products accessible to all.

 

Embracing technological solutions

TECHNOLOGICAL innovations hold the key to transforming Bangladesh’s waste management system. Technology offers scalable solutions. Real-time monitoring, remote sensing and artificial intelligence can revolutionise municipal solid waste management by enhancing efficiency and sustainability. Real-time monitoring systems equipped with sensors can track waste levels in bins and containers, optimising collection routes and schedules. Remote sensing technology, such as satellite imagery, can identify and monitor waste accumulation in areas, aiding in better planning and management. Artificial intelligence can analyse data from these technologies to predict waste generation patterns, automate sorting processes and improve recycling rates. Together, these technologies create a smarter, more responsive waste management system that reduces costs and environmental impact.

However, technological solutions must be inclusive. Bangladesh’s digital divide, particularly between urban and rural areas, could limit the reach of these innovations. Government-led initiatives that provide digital literacy training and expand access to mobile technology are crucial for ensuring that all communities benefit from these advancements.

 

From informal to formal

IMPROVING recycling infrastructure could create thousands of jobs in Bangladesh, offering work in sorting, processing and selling recyclable materials. The informal waste sector in Bangladesh already plays a pivotal, though often overlooked, role in mitigating the waste crisis by recovering 15–20 per cent of the country’s waste. However, these workers operate in hazardous conditions without formal recognition and protection.

Countries like Brazil have successfully integrated informal waste pickers into the formal economy through cooperatives, providing them with better pay, legal protections and access to healthcare. Bangladesh could adopt a similar model, empowering waste pickers to contribute to waste recovery in a safer and more sustainable way.

 

The missing ingredient

PUBLIC participation is key to any successful waste management system, yet awareness of proper waste disposal practices remains low in Bangladesh. Socio-cultural factors like low literacy rates, traditional attitudes towards waste and a lack of education about environmental and climate change issues all contribute to this gap. However, this gap can be addressed through targeted public education campaigns, particularly in schools and communities.

In Rwanda, public education campaigns about the environmental hazards of plastic bags led to a nationwide ban on their use, transforming the country into one of the cleanest in Africa. Bangladesh could launch similar awareness campaigns, particularly in schools and community centres, to educate citizens about waste segregation, recycling and the long-term benefits of sustainable waste practices.

Public awareness campaigns, when combined with grassroots efforts, can drive behaviour change. Imagine a future where every household understands the value of composting, every community sorts its waste, and every child learns the importance of recycling. Change begins at home — and in the hearts and minds of the people.

 

Turning crisis into opportunity

BANGLADESH is at a crossroads. The waste crisis is real, but it presents a unique opportunity to reshape the country’s future. Bangladesh must prioritise waste segregation at the source. Sorting waste into biodegradable, recyclable and hazardous categories is essential to reduce landfill pressure, increase recycling rates and unlock the economic potential of waste recovery. Imagine a future where what we discard is no longer a burden but a resource — one that powers cities, fertilises crops and provides livelihoods.

The time to act is now. The stakes are high, but so are the opportunities. By embracing sustainable technologies, empowering informal waste workers and improving policy enforcement, Bangladesh can achieve SDGs 6, 7, 8, 11, 12 and 13. With the right blend of political will, public participation and private sector engagement, Bangladesh can turn waste into wealth, fuel economic growth and safeguard its environment.

The question is: will we seize the moment?