Daily production of 249 tons of plastic waste in Chittagong

News Desk

Sept 13, 2022

3000 tons of waste is produced daily in Chittagong metropolitan area. Among them, plastic-polyethylene waste is 249 tons, 8.3 percent. Of which 35.61 percent is recyclable. But among these plastic-polyethylene wastes, 109 tons are collected and 140 tons remain uncollected. This uncollected plastic-polyethylene waste is increasing the urban waterlogging. The cause of plastic-polythene is waterlogging in Chittagong, air pollution, soil pollution, the layer of plastic-polythene is falling in Karnaphuli river. Chittagong's canals and rivers are facing a terrible disaster due to mismanagement of plastic waste. Plastic particles are spreading in the bodies of humans, fish and other animals.

This information was given at the Chittagong Press Club on Saturday afternoon in the presentation of the research paper entitled '249 tons of plastic-polyethylene waste to the environment'.

The research papers were presented by Pial Barua and Al Amin, students of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CHUTE) Department of Civil Engineering. The research was supervised by Chuet's civil engineering professor Dr. Swapan Kumar Palit. President of Bangladesh Environment Forum and Chuet VC (former) Professor Dr. In the press conference organized under the chairmanship of Jahangir Alam, senior vice president of Bangladesh Environment Forum, moderator of the research paper, Prof. Dr. Chuet participated in the discussion. Swapan Kumar Palit, Senior Vice President Prof. Dr. Idris Ali, vice-president Lokman Dayal, general secretary of the organization journalist Aliur Rahman, joint editor Prof. Pradeep Kumar Das, Prof. Manoj Kumar Deb, organizing secretary SM Payar Ali and member Jasim Uddin etc.

Two students of Chuet conducted this research work in 15 wards including Baklia, Chandangao, Muradpur, Chawkbazar, Khatunganj, Agrabad, CEPZ of the city for the last one year. The study was supported by the Bangladesh Environment Forum.

According to the research paper, plastic waste pollution is increasing day by day due to widespread plastic throwing, lack of sufficient dustbins, lack of necessary legal action, burning of plastic, ignorance about the causes of plastic pollution, non-biodegradability and population growth. Due to this plastic pollution, microplastics are entering the human body with food, drinking water and breathing. Chemical additives with plastic polyethylene are entering the human body and causing diseases like cancer, infertility and autism. Plastic polyethylene waste enters the environment and attracts microorganisms like harmful bacteria (pathogens), which then enter the microplastics containing pathogens into the human body, increasing the risk of infection. By 2051, the amount of plastic and polythene waste in Chittagong city will increase to 428 tons.

The study also says that 30 percent people recycle plastic polythene, 46 percent people never recycle plastic, 11 percent people sometimes recycle and 13 percent people are not at all aware.

By: Mohtasim Fuad

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