Dr Matiur Rahman

Humanity is facing a pressing environmental challenge: the waste crisis. Unsustainable production and consumption practices drive the planet towards destruction, with dire consequences for ecosystems, human health, and future generations.

Globally, households, small businesses, and public service providers generate between 2.1 billion and 2.3 billion tons of municipal solid waste each year. This staggering amount includes everything from packaging and electronics to plastics and food.

However, global waste management services are struggling to cope with this influx, leaving 2.7 billion people without access to solid waste collection and only 61–62% of municipal solid waste managed in controlled facilities. Urgent action is needed to address this crisis before it spirals out of control.

The scale of the waste crisis is staggering—packed into standard shipping containers and placed end-to-end, municipal solid waste generated in one year would wrap around the globe 25 times. Increasing resource use is the main driver of the triple planetary climate change crisis, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution.

Municipal solid waste generation is projected to balloon to 3.8 billion tons annually by 2050 without urgent action. Humanity produces a staggering 430 million tons of plastic yearly, two-thirds of short-lived products that quickly become waste. These statistics highlight the urgent need for bold and decisive action to address the waste crisis and transition towards a more sustainable and circular economy.

The second annual International Day of Zero Waste serves as a poignant reminder of the critical need to bolster waste management globally and promote sustainable production and consumption practices. This day celebrates zero-waste initiatives at all levels of society and underscores their vital role in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Bolstering waste management and implementing upstream solutions are crucial components of addressing the waste crisis.

Improving collection, recycling, and other forms of sound waste management remains an urgent priority. However, to solve the waste crisis, humanity must shift its mindset and treat waste as a valuable resource. This entails reducing waste generation and adopting a lifecycle approach to resource management.

Resources should be reused or recovered as much as possible, and products should be designed to be durable and require fewer and low-impact materials. By implementing upstream solutions like these, we can minimise air, land, and water pollution and decrease the extraction of precious and limited natural resources.

Achieving zero-waste societies requires action from all stakeholders at all levels. Consumers play a crucial role in changing consumption habits, embracing reuse and repair practices, and properly disposing of products at the end of their lifecycle.

Governments, communities, industries, and other stakeholders must collaborate to improve financing and policymaking, particularly as the waste crisis disproportionately impacts marginalised communities, the urban poor, women, and youth. By addressing the root causes of waste generation and implementing comprehensive waste management strategies, we can work towards building more resilient and sustainable societies.

The proclamation of March 30th as the International Day of Zero Waste by the United Nations General Assembly underscores the global recognition of the urgency of addressing the waste crisis. This day allows Member States, organisations of the United Nations system, civil society, the private sector, academia, youth, and other stakeholders to come together and raise awareness of zero-waste initiatives and their contribution to sustainable development. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) jointly facilitate the observance of International Day of Zero Waste, promoting collaboration and collective action towards waste reduction and sustainable consumption.

Promoting zero-waste initiatives through the International Day of Zero Waste can help advance all the goals and targets in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and Sustainable Development Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). These goals address various forms of waste, including food loss and waste, natural resource extraction, and electronic waste, underscoring the interconnectedness of waste management and sustainable development.

Like many developing nations, Bangladesh grapples with a waste management crisis that poses significant environmental, public health, and social challenges. With over 160 million people living in densely populated urban areas, the country faces mounting pressures on its limited resources and infrastructure to manage its waste effectively. The consequences of inadequate waste management practices are evident across the nation, from overflowing landfills to unregulated dumping sites. This article explores the key challenges facing waste management in Bangladesh and outlines potential solutions to address this issue.

One of Bangladesh's primary challenges in waste management is the sheer volume of waste generated daily. Rapid urbanisation, population growth, and changing consumption patterns have substantially increased municipal solid waste generation. The demand for effective waste management solutions has never been greater from household to industrial and commercial waste. However, the existing infrastructure and resources for waste collection, transportation, and disposal are woefully inadequate, leading to widespread littering, illegal dumping, and environmental degradation.

Another major challenge is the lack of comprehensive and efficient waste management policies and regulations. While Bangladesh has made strides in enacting environmental laws and regulations, enforcement remains weak, and compliance is often lax. As a result, many waste management practices are informal, unregulated, and environmentally harmful. Additionally, the absence of proper segregation and recycling facilities further exacerbates the problem, leading to inefficient resource use and increased air, land, and water pollution.

Furthermore, the socio-economic disparities within Bangladeshi society exacerbate the waste management crisis, disproportionately affecting marginalised communities, the urban poor, and informal waste workers. These vulnerable populations often reside in overcrowded slums and informal settlements with limited access to basic services such as waste collection and sanitation. As a result, they are more likely to bear the brunt of the environmental and health impacts of poor waste management practices, including exposure to toxins and pollutants.

In light of these challenges, several potential solutions can be explored to improve waste management in Bangladesh. First and foremost, there is a need for greater investment in infrastructure and technology to enhance waste collection, transportation, and disposal systems. This includes establishing modern landfill sites, waste-to-energy facilities, and recycling plants to manage different types of waste and minimise environmental pollution efficiently.

Additionally, there is a need for stronger regulatory frameworks and enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance with waste management regulations. This includes stricter penalties for illegal dumping and littering and incentives for businesses and households to adopt sustainable waste management practices. Public awareness campaigns and education initiatives can also promote behaviour change and foster a culture of environmental responsibility.

Furthermore, there is a need for greater collaboration and coordination among government agencies, civil society organisations, and the private sector to address the waste management crisis comprehensively. By leveraging the expertise and resources of various stakeholders, innovative solutions can be developed to tackle the complex challenges of waste management in Bangladesh.

Addressing the waste crisis requires a concerted effort from all sectors of society. By prioritising waste management, promoting sustainable production and consumption practices, and embracing zero-waste initiatives, we can build a more resilient and sustainable future for future generations. International Day of Zero Waste is a powerful platform for raising awareness, fostering collaboration, and mobilising action towards achieving a world without waste. As we commemorate this day, let us reaffirm our commitment to reducing waste, protecting the environment, and promoting sustainable development for the well-being of all.

The writer is a researcher and development worker.