Integrated efforts needed to prevent plastic pollution: Minister

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin on Thursday said that all will have to work together to control plastic pollution to build a smart Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Speaking at a workshop organised by the Department of Environment (DoE) today, the minister said the government is implementing 'Multisectoral Action Plan for Sustainable Plastic Management in Bangladesh' to control plastic pollution.

Public awareness raising activities are ongoing along with taking actions against illegal polythene shopping bag manufacturing, transportation, sales and storage, he said.

Moreover, the government, people's representatives, civil society, NGOs, private sector, environmental organizations and print and electronic media all have to work together to bring down the environment pollution, he observed.

The minister said that a three-year action plan has been formulated to stop the use of single-use plastic in 40 upazilas of 12 districts of the coastal region.

The government is working to phase out various single-use plastic items on sea beaches and adjacent hotels and motels.

He said reducing the use of 'virgin materials' by 50 percent by 2030, eliminating 90 percent single-use plastics by 2026, ensuring 50 percent recycling of plastic waste by 2025, adopting an action plan to reduce plastic waste generation by 30 percent by 2030 has been incorporated in Plastic Action plan.

Shahab Uddin said guidelines for implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility are being formulated. If all concerned work together, a success is a must in curbing plastic pollution, he added.

Chaired by DoE Director General Dr Abdul Hamid, Special Envoy to Prime Minister for Environment and Climate and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Saber Hossain Chowdhury and Secretary to the ministry Dr. Farhina Ahmed spoke as special guests.

Representatives from various ministries, development agencies, universities, industrial institutions, NGOs, business organizations and firms were divided into five groups to identify and present issues to be done to prevent and control plastic pollution.