Single-use plastic to be cut by 90% by 2026

Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin today said following the Sustainable Plastic Management Action Plan, the government has taken initiatives to cut single-use of plastic by 90 percent by 2026.

"In addition, it has been planned to increase the recycling of plastic waste to 80 percent by 2030 and reduce the generation of plastic waste to 30 percent during the period," he said while addressing a seminar at a hotel in Dhaka.

Speaking as the chief guest, Shahab Uddin said the government has formulated a three-year action plan to check single-use plastic in coastal areas and increase the use of environment-friendly and biodegradable materials.

To manage solid waste, Hazardous Waste Management Regulations-2021 have been formulated and Waste Treatment Rules are being updated, he added.

"The goal of the government's National 3R Policy for waste management is to completely eliminate waste disposal on open land, rivers, streams, canals, and plains and to encourage waste recycling through mandatory separation of waste at source and to create a market for recyclable products," he added.

The environment minister said pollution control requires law enforcement as well as the cooperation of the commoners.

Chaired by Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed, Deputy Environment Minister Habibun Nahar, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the ministry Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Director General of the Department of Environment (DoE) Dr Abdul Hamid, and BUET's retired professor Dr Ijaz Hossain addressed the seminar, among others.