The devastation of plastic pollution and Covid-19 woes
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Sunday
February 05, 2023

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 05, 2023
The devastation of plastic pollution and Covid-19 woes

Thoughts

Alaul Alam
09 August, 2020, 11:20 am
Last modified: 17 August, 2020, 11:37 am

Related News

  • Hong Kong says 'hello' to woo back visitors after Covid
  • US to end Covid-19 emergency declarations on 11 May
  • Covid remains a public health emergency, says WHO
  • Holiday trips within China surge after lifting of Covid curbs
  • India launches world’s 1st intranasal Covid vaccine

The devastation of plastic pollution and Covid-19 woes

It is an irony that we are trying to save ourselves using these protective gears and on the other hand, we are endangering others with our foolish acts

Alaul Alam
09 August, 2020, 11:20 am
Last modified: 17 August, 2020, 11:37 am
Alaul Alam.
Alaul Alam.

The ongoing pandemic has increased the public sufferings leading to the state of economic despondency and many other issues. As a result, the Covid-19 woes will be multiplied when the environment is likely to meet with the devastation caused by plastic pollution. Therefore, it is apparent to contemplate that the risk of infection will grow with more pollution to the environment.

In this unprecedented pandemic, we have to use surgical masks, plastic gloves, protective equipment, and bottles of hand sanitisers to shield ourselves from being attacked with the deadly virus. At the same time, the use of items like facial tissue, oxygen masks, saline bags, disposable syringes and needles, among others have increased at the hospitals.

On top of that, the use of single-use plastic cups used for serving coffee and tea have increased drastically in the last few months as people are afraid to drink from traditional ceramic cups. This may be termed as the "new normal" of the tea stalls. Besides, a recent study confirmed that 17 billion paper cups are used every year across the globe for serving tea and coffee.

It was estimated that the use of plastic produces will be doubled during the pandemic. According to a survey conducted by Environment and Social Development Organisation (ESDO), more than 15000 tons of plastic waste including PPE and other hazardous medical waste is being generated monthly across the country but the management of these wastes are not satisfactory.  

It is quite alarming that people are not bothered about their discarded plastic wastes which are often found on the streets, parks, sidewalks and roads posing a serious health threat to humans and other living species.

Even in the open garbage cans, animals such as dogs and cats are constantly found to search their foods from there, which have huge chance to spread the infection not only in them but also other living beings in the community. 

It is an irony that we are trying to save ourselves using these protective gears and on the other hand, we are endangering others with our foolish acts.

Experts claimed that the huge amount of plastic waste can infect the environment and many other contagious viruses including HIV and Hepatitis (B and C) can easily be generated from such wastes along with Covid-19.

Besides, plastic pollution also harms animals and plants through toxicities. Environmentalists claimed that plastic waste can exist in the soil for hundreds or even thousands of years. As it is not biodegradable, it is getting mixed with the food grains and consequently, entering humans and animals body accelerating their premature death.

Also, once these pollutants get into the water, they affect marine life causing thousands of marine species to die each year. In recent times we saw waterlogging in the big cities due to the expansion of plastic trash blockading drainage systems frequently.

A study revealed that global plastic waste by 2050 is likely to contribute to 15 percent of greenhouse gas emission. which is equal to the current 15 percent for the emissions of all of the world's forms of transportation that is truly more than alarming in case of survival in the world.

In line with other countries to manage the plastic waste, Bangladesh is more vulnerable as a study conducted by Department of Environment revealed that 36 percent of the plastic waste was recycled in the informal sector, 39 percent dumped in landfills and the rest leaked to the environment.

In the wake of Covid-19, the severity of plastic pollution seems to remain uncontrolled concerning proper management as the huge amount of plastic is not only discarded from the hospitals but also our homes. This needs to be dealt with even though it is hard to manage the waste unless there are proper cooperation and awareness in this regard.

A couple of NGOs are working for disposing of the plastic waste in this unprecedented time but their efforts are not successful due to many limitations.

Creating a massive awareness among the people may be the great panacea along with taking the outcome-based initiatives to bring out a proper accomplishment of plastic waste.


Alaul Alam teaches at Prime University. He can be reached at: [email protected].

Top News

COVID-19 / Pollution / devastation

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • ICB to withdraw Padma Bank investment as return eludes
    ICB to withdraw Padma Bank investment as return eludes
  • Some tough tasks on the plate for Bangladesh Bank!
    Some tough tasks on the plate for Bangladesh Bank!
  • Influentials thwart Bangladesh's reform attempts: Economists
    Influentials thwart Bangladesh's reform attempts: Economists

MOST VIEWED

  • Sketch: TBS
    Export diversification: Current scenario and possibilities 
  • Sketch: TBS
    Zuckerberg’s new focus pulls Meta back from the brink
  • Sketch: TBS
    How BIDA is ensuring investment growth
  • Index funds provide small investors with a low-cost, diversified investment option.
Photo: TBS
    Exploring the benefits of index funds for small investors in Bangladesh
  • Photo: Collected
    Pakistan’s revisionist tactics
  • Journalist Haroon Janjua. Illustration: TBS
    Can Pakistan face down a growing Taliban insurgency?

Related News

  • Hong Kong says 'hello' to woo back visitors after Covid
  • US to end Covid-19 emergency declarations on 11 May
  • Covid remains a public health emergency, says WHO
  • Holiday trips within China surge after lifting of Covid curbs
  • India launches world’s 1st intranasal Covid vaccine

Features

Sketch: TBS

Say 'Salud' before your salad main course

21h | Food
Coots running. Photo: Enam Ul Haque

Cute Coot of Baikka Beel: 'And yet he was as bald as a coot'

15h | Panorama
With only one government run specialised cancer hospital in the capital — the National Institute Of Cancer Research and Hospital (NICRH) in Mohakhali — patients have no option but to resort to private hospitals. Photo: Noor A Alam.

Cancer care: Medical treatment and beyond

22h | Panorama
Andy Mukherjee. Sketch: TBS

What makes India's billionaires' support special for Adani

1d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Prioritise medical equipment, raw material imports over luxury items

Prioritise medical equipment, raw material imports over luxury items

12h | TBS Round Table
Adani row rocks India’s parliament

Adani row rocks India’s parliament

12h | TBS World
Concord launches new plant to produce environment friendly bricks

Concord launches new plant to produce environment friendly bricks

17h | TBS Stories
How Asif Khan would invest his fresh funds right now

How Asif Khan would invest his fresh funds right now

18h | TBS Markets

Most Read

1
Leepu realised his love for cars from a young age and for the last 40 years, he has transformed, designed and customised hundreds of cars. Photo: Collected
Panorama

'I am not crazy about cars anymore': Nizamuddin Awlia Leepu

2
Photo: Collected
Energy

8 Ctg power plants out of production

3
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo is seen outside the headquarters building in Washington, U.S., September 4, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas/File Photo
Economy

IMF approves $4.7 billion loan for Bangladesh, calls for ambitious reforms

4
Fund cut as Dhaka's fast-track transit projects on slow spending lane
Infrastructure

Fund cut as Dhaka's fast-track transit projects on slow spending lane

5
Photo: Collected
Court

Japanese mother gets guardianship of daughters, free to leave country

6
Belal Ahmed new acting chairman of SIBL
Banking

Belal Ahmed new acting chairman of SIBL

EMAIL US
co[email protected]
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2023
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - [email protected]

For advertisement- [email protected]