Ensure recycling of plastic products

The government has to ensure recycling of plastic products so that use of environmentally-harmful materials can be reduced, demanded environmentalists yesterday.

They also called upon consumers to facilitate the recycling process and avoid plastic products, especially polythene bags.

Nowadays, it is very difficult to avoid plastic products, so recycling is a must, they added.

The speakers were addressing a roundtable titled, “If you can't reuse it, refuse it”.

The Department of Environment and Bangla daily Samakal organised it at Jatiya Press Club, marking World Environment Day (June 5).

Prof Ainun Nishat said the way people use and dump plastic products is the main problem, so they should change their habit and become aware.

Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela) Chief Executive Syeda Rizwana Hasan said people should be made aware of the dangers of plastic. “Perhaps, plastic is cheaper. But it becomes costlier when we consider its adverse impact on the environment and human body,” she said.

Speaking as chief guest, Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud said people should use recyclable plastic.

Noted jute scientist Dr Mubark Ahmad Khan said developing an alternative is a must to replace plastic and polythene.

Sultan Ahmed, director general of the Department of Environment; KM Iqbal Hossain, vice president of Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association; and Mustafiz Shafi, executive editor of Samakal, also spoke.