JU’s waste management in a shambles; recycling plant non-functional since 2020

Jahangirnagar University's waste management has been in shambles for the last couple of years, posing a serious threat to its otherwise clean environment and biodiversity.

With the recycling plant non-functional since March 2020, waste is being dumped into the open and the lakes inside the campus, said teachers and students of the university.

They said due to the absence of proper management and little to no funding from the university authorities, more dumping zones have been sprouting on the campus.

While visiting the designated waste dumping yard near the university's 20-mile area, this correspondent found solid and other waste scattered everywhere, the foul smell engulfing the whole area.

The lakes beside Al- Beruni and Fazilatunnesa halls as well as new and old arts buildings have become dumping sites, polluting the temporary abode for migratory birds during winter, according to Kamrul Hasan, professor of zoology at JU.

There are bins at different locations of the vast campus. However, there is little awareness in this regard, and all waste is dumped indiscriminately at one spot without segregation. This includes medical waste as well, according to a designated waste collector of the campus.

"Waste collectors have no training. They don't have much idea about hazardous waste and mix everything together," said Dr Md Shakhaoat Hossain, assistant professor of public health and informatics.

In 2012, the JU authority introduced a recycling plant, funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency and Grameen Shakti, intending to clean the campus.

The plant produced a significant amount of biogas from solid waste and turned it into cooking fuel for 70 families living in the area.

The waste was collected systematically, also sourced from two adjacent residential areas -- PATC and Arunapalli -- to produce enough to meet the demand. The outsourcing of solid waste was done to make the plant economically sustainable.

"Students from different universities also visited the plant for research interests," said Dr Md Khabir Uddin, professor of environmental sciences at JU.

"But the entire campus turned into a giant dump yard after the plant stopped functioning in March 2020."

Md Ajim Uddin, JU's deputy registrar (estate), said the plant stopped functioning due to the dearth of demand for gas. "The families of the residential areas are not interested in the gas anymore, hence we put the plant out of operation," said Ajim.

A resident of 20-mile area claimed that they were not interested to use bio-gas anymore, as it was not producing sufficient pressure for cooking.

Dr AHM Sadaat, department chair of environmental sciences, said the produced gas could be used for other purposes. "But that needs funding from the JU authorities."

Prof Khabir said the gas could be used to run generators as well. "This wouldn't even cost much."

Eminent economist Prof Anu Muhammad said, "The university authority is spending thousands of crores in shady constructions, but wouldn't spend a few thousand to address the waste management issue. This is completely unacceptable."

"I'm not aware of any special fund or team dedicated to waste management, and I don't know whether the university is interested in providing a fund," said JU Treasurer Prof Rasheda Akhtar.

"I have come to know of the situation just now. We will discuss the matter," said Rahima Kaneez, JU's acting registrar.

This correspondent couldn't contact VC Farzana Islam despite repeated attempts.