Green experts want laws, rules for sustainable waste management

The government should formulate a legal framework and rules for a sustainable waste management system in order to improve the lives of those who live by collecting waste, feel experts. Green activists and civil society members yesterday urged the government to take immediate steps in this regard.

The Poribesh Bachao Andalan (POBA) and the Grambangla Unnayan Committee jointly organised a seminar titled ‘Legal framework for municipal waste management and life of the waste pickers in Bangladesh’ at the Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka.

Former environment and forest minister Hasan Mahmud, POBA chairman Abu Naser Khan, Grambangla Unnayan Committee executive director AKM Maksud, POBA general secretary Abdus Sobhan, POBA assistant secretary Barrister Nishat Mahmud and DoE deputy director Abul Kalam Azad spoke at the seminar.

AKM Maksud presented a keynote paper at the seminar.

Citing RAJUK data, Maksud said that around 1.73 crore people live in Dhaka. He also cited DoE data to say that about 0.56kg waste is produced daily by a person in the city.

A total of 10,261 tonnes of waste is being produced daily in Dhaka, Maksud said in his keynote paper.

The green activists said the government should take initiatives to turn waste into resources to help waste-pickers improve their living conditions. E-waste and medical waste are posing health hazardous to waste-pickers, they added.

Considering the consequences, the government should manage municipal waste by immediately formulating a legal framework, the green activists said.

All city corporations and municipalities should be decentralised in order to address waste management problems, Hasan Mahmud, who is also the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Environment and Forest Ministry, said.

“Commissioners of city corporations should take the responsibility to manage wastes Besides, people’s willingness is also needed in ths regard. It would create competition among the commissioners, which could be a big achievement in waste management,” the former minister observed.

It is important to mange waste in a proper way as cities are expanding rapidly, POBA chairman Abu Naser Khan said.

“Improper waste management poses a great threat to city life, the environment and health. Though the DoE has already taken initiatives to formulate a draft on waste management, a legal framework is needed immediately,” he added.

He also said a proper waste management system would help  increase soil fertility if organic wastes are turned into bio-gas and organic fertilisers.

Green experts want laws, rules for sustainable waste management

The government should formulate a legal framework and rules for a sustainable waste management system in order to improve the lives of those who live by collecting waste, feel experts. Green activists and civil society members yesterday urged the government to take immediate steps in this regard. The Poribesh Bachao Andalan (POBA) and the Grambangla Unnayan Committee jointly organised a seminar titled Legal framework for municipal waste management and life of the waste pickers in Bangladesh at the Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka. Former environment and forest minister Hasan Mahmud, POBA chairman Abu Naser Khan, Grambangla Unnayan Committee executive director AKM Maksud, POBA general secretary Abdus Sobhan, POBA assistant secretary Barrister Nishat Mahmud and DoE deputy director Abul Kalam Azad spoke at the seminar. AKM Maksud presented a keynote paper at the seminar. Citing RAJUK data, Maksud said that around 1.73 crore people live in Dhaka. He also cited DoE data to say that about 0.56kg waste is produced daily by a person in the city. A total of 10,261 tonnes of waste is being produced daily in Dhaka, Maksud said in his keynote paper. The green activists said the government should take initiatives to turn waste into resources to help waste-pickers improve their living conditions. E-waste and medical waste are posing health hazardous to waste-pickers, they added. Considering the consequences, the government should manage municipal waste by immediately formulating a legal framework, the green activists said. All city corporations and municipalities should be decentralised in order to address waste management problems, Hasan Mahmud, who is also the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Environment and Forest Ministry, said. Commissioners of city corporations should take the responsibility to manage wastes Besides, peoples willingness is also needed in ths regard. It would create competition among the commissioners, which could be a big achievement in waste management, the former minister observed. It is important to mange waste in a proper way as cities are expanding rapidly, POBA chairman Abu Naser Khan said. Improper waste management poses a great threat to city life, the environment and health. Though the DoE has already taken initiatives to formulate a draft on waste management, a legal framework is needed immediately, he added. He also said a proper waste management system would help increase soil fertility if organic wastes are turned into bio-gas and organic fertilisers.