🇧🇩 Khulna Division (3 districts): Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat; Barishal Division (2 districts): Pirojpur & Barguna

The project aims to increse income of waste pickers 5000+ and 10 years of period, capturing an average of 102,000 tonnes CO₂ per annum.

Bangladesh generates approximately 3,000 tons of plastic waste daily, accounting for 10% of the total waste volume). The Consumption of LDPE packaging materials increased fivefold in 2020 compared to 2005. At the household level, 40.6 percent of LDPE in waste comes from single-use thin shopping bags and 7.0 percent from MLP. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the consumption of packaging and shopping bags made of LDPE. An estimated 24,032–36,047 tons of plastic waste are disposed of per year in 1,212 hot spots around canals and rivers, all of which are connected to the river system. In addition, a lot of LDPES, mainly SUP and MLP (e.g., potato chips bags, polythene bags, packaging materials) were found in tourist spots. Amongst discharged plastic wastes only 30 percent of postconsumer packaging waste is collected, 37 percent is recycled, 12 percent ends up in khals and rivers. Though several policy measures were adopted by the government, lack of public awareness and poor enforcement made difficult to halt plastic pollution.

The world’s largest single mangrove forest and the UNESCO Marine World Heritage Site – Sundarbans is also affected by the plastic pollution. Plastic discharge to the Bay of Bengal through the Sundarbans (both Bangladesh and India) is about 4 million tonnes per year with a discharge density of 1.7 × 10−8 tonnes plastic/ha-yr. This pristine sanctuary comprising 30% of national biodiversity and inhibiting globally threatened, vulnerable or endangered species (i.e., Panthera tigris, Platanista gangetica, Orcaella brevirostris, Lepidochelys olivacea, Crocodilus porosus) has currently facing plastic induced stress condition (e.g., disrupting soil microbial processes, plant growth, litter decomposition, hamper carbon sequestration capacity). To address this transboundary plastic situation, a systemic solution is needed urgently that integrates innovative technology, improved plastic management policy advocacy, sustainable financing, knowledge and research, awareness raising and behavior change.

This project is designed to address the above-mentioned aspects of the solution that is deeply rooted in the Parley AIR thematic areas. Retrieving and recycling activities at the upstream (Site:1) of the Sundarbans with introducing innovative technology that contributes to circular economy and engaging marginal waste pickers, this project could avoid the plastic discharge at the river before entering into the Sundarbans and the Bay of Bengel. Besides, the plastic pollutions at the downstream, inside the Sundarbans (Site:2), are also avoided and intercepted before entering the Bay of Bengel through policy advocacy, behavior change and awareness raising activities. Moreover, the project is designed to ensure more 50 percent women beneficiary, to create better plastic management in the eco-tourism industry and to strengthen relation with government for sustainability after the project period. Additionally, this project could bring both environmental and social benefits (e.g., mangrove ecosystem protection, habitat conservation of 6 globally endangered and threatened species, improvement of ecosystem services, empowerment of women through social status upliftment, AIG support to the fishermen etc.).

Project ID: TBD