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Building zero waste communities is a necessary alternative to prevailing waste management in the country as it can significantly reduce waste generation and help greater resource productivity, said environment experts.
The purpose of zero waste communities through reducing, refusing, reusing and recycling and waste segregation is to show the fact that life can be easier and healthier by adapting the 4R approach, they added.
Speakers also described how a simple act of household waste segregation can create a very positive and bigger impact on saving our environment.
“Building zero waste communities can help us to reduce waste and drive greater resource productivity and also create a circular economy for Bangladesh,” said Habibun Nahar, deputy minister, ministry of environment, forest and climate change at the event.
Speakers made the call at a documentary screening event titled ‘journey towards zero-waste community’ was organised by Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) in association with Alliance Française de Dhaka on Monday night.
Another video documentary on the easy way to lead a Zero-waste lifestyle featuring renowned singer Rezwana Chowdhury Bonna, veteran actress Dilara Zaman and outstanding actor Azizul Hakim was screened.
Habibun Nahar addressed the event as the chief guest, said, “This current practice of consumption has devastating effects for humans, wildlife and the planet and all this clearly underlines that our current practice of consumption and managing waste is not at all sustainable and it’s high time we shift to zero waste approach.”
Syed Marghub Murshed, Former Secretary of Bangladesh and Chairperson of ESDO said that several successful examples of community engagement in developed and developing nations have reinforced the concept that municipal corporations cannot function in isolation and that waste management requires the active participation of all stakeholders.
“Waste segregation and reuse have been highlighted in the Solid Waste Management Rule 2021. We think that with the community's spontaneous engagement, we will be able to create a sustainable waste management system.” Md. Moniruzzaman, additional secretary, ministry of environment, forest and climate change stated at the event.
Keya Khan of the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs highlighted the need of creating a zero waste community in order to achieve a sustainable waste management system in Bangladesh.
Monnujan Khanam, senior policy advisor, economic affairs and CSR, the embassy of the Netherlands in Bangladesh said that by 2050, the Netherlands hopes to develop a circular economy or a waste-free economy that relies mostly on renewable and sustainable raw resources and recycles both products and raw materials.
The zero-waste method will create a circular economy in which "waste" becomes a resource for something new, said ESDO’s Secretary General Shahriar Hossain.