Speakers at a seminar on Monday called for ensuring proper waste management in the capital, reports UNB. They said environmental hazards can be reduced through proper waste management. They were speaking at a seminar on ‘Solid Waste Management Challenges’ marking the World Habitat Day held at the EMK Centre in the capital’s Dhanmondi. Nature Study Society of Bangladesh (NSSB) and Edward M. Kennedy Centre for Public Service and the Arts (EMK) organized the programme.

Founder Director of NSSB Captain Kawsar Mostafa delivered a presentation on ‘Solid Waste Management’ at the seminar. He said “The municipal solid wastes have been a great challenge all over the world today for their huge volume and problem of properly managing the same. So it is urgent for taking steps for proper management of waste in the capital.”

Brand Ambassador of NSSB (JU) Aflatun Kaeser Zilany spoke on ‘Engaging youth in turning waste into resources’.

Director of EMK Center Naveed Akbar also spoke.

Students and members from University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), Northern University of Bangladesh (NUB), Motijheel Ideal College, Volunteer For Bangladesh, different school, college, university and organisation of city area participated the programme.

The main focus of this year’s World Habitat Day celebration is taking action to address the Municipal Solid Waste Management challenges.

The United Nations has declared the first Monday of October every year as the World Habitat Day, to reflect on the state of our cities and towns, and on the basic rights of all for an adequate shelter.

BSS adds from Rangpur:  Engineers of the Public Works Department (PWD) at a pre-rally discussion have put emphasis on promoting innovative solutions to municipal solid waste management to maintain hygienic and clean environment.

They opined this in discussion before bringing out a rally jointly organised by the district administration and PWD here on Monday in observance of the World Habitat Day-2018 with the theme of ‘Municipal Solid Waste Management.’

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Enamul Habib inaugurated the rally as the chief guest with Executive Engineer of the PWD Engineer Md Shakiul Alam in the chair.

Sub-divisional Engineer (SDE-1) of the PWD Engineer Md Moniruzzaman Sarker, its SDE of the E and M Sub-division Engineer Razia Sultana addressed as special guests.

In his welcome speech, Engineer Alam said the World Habitat Day is being observed across the world on the first Monday of October annually to reflect state of the world’s towns and cities and emphasise basic rights of all to receive adequate shelter.

“The main aim behind observance of this year’s World Habitat Day is to address the municipal solid waste management challenge that needs to be addressed properly,” he said.

Engineer Sultana said the quantity of waste produced by the individuals is growing every day and often costs local authorities a large proportion of their budget for removal of those making the solid waste management a burning issue.

Citing latest international survey reports, she said,” The amount of total generated waste is expected to 5.9 billion tonnes annually by 2025 due to ineffective waste management strategies.”