E-waste is generated at the rate of 20 percent annually in Bangladesh. And by 2035, the amount of this waste will increase to 46 lakh 20 thousand tons. This rate is higher than many countries in Asia, which puts human power at great health risk, warns research organization Voices for Interactive Choice and Empowerment (VOICE).
This cautionary message was given at the meeting titled ‘Review of E-Waste Management Rules-2021’ and Sustainable Business Model held at the Civic Center of the capital on Saturday (October 29). In the meeting, the speakers emphasized on the establishment of management plants on the basis of public-private partnership to protect the environment and public health from e-waste pollution.
In the discussion meeting presided over by journalist Salim Samad, the speakers also called for increasing awareness of e-waste, proper waste management system, removing weaknesses in the law and recycling e-waste following due process. For this purpose, the necessity of setting up e-waste treatment plants in the city corporations was also discussed.
Voice executive director Ahmed Swapan Mahmud spoke at the meeting while Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon- BAPA (Bangladesh Environment Movement) joint secretary Mihir Biswas, social movement leader Aminur Rasul, Sony-Rangs representative Zahirul Hasan, journalist Ahmed Tofail and others spoke at the meeting.
Representatives of NGOs, civil society representatives, teachers, journalists, women leaders and representatives of various professional organizations were present in the event.
A review of e-waste management rules 2021 and results of a survey on corporate business models were presented at the meeting.
According to the survey, most of the electric and electronics manufacturers do not have any waste management of their own. However, they expressed interest in participating if e-waste management plants were set up on a public-private partnership basis.
Ahmed Swapan Mahmud, executive director of VOICE, said that e-waste is generated at a rate of 20 percent every year in Bangladesh, which is more than many Asian countries. By 2035, 46 lakh 20 thousand tons of e-waste will be generated annually in the country. In Bangladesh, 1.37 billion dollars’ worth of electrical products are sold annually, of which 40 percent are refrigerators and 30 percent are televisions.
Journalist Salim Samad said, in order to develop an environment-friendly e-waste recycling system in the country in coordination with all ministries, it should be developed in all divisional cities, if possible, in all districts. Special zones need to be developed in the city. In order to implement the rules, it is necessary to build environment-friendly e-waste recycling plants and proper monitoring by the government is necessary in this regard.
It was informed in the meeting that along with the use of electric and electronic products, the production of waste is also increasing. Considering the situation, the speakers called for the implementation of the related rules as soon as possible for the purpose of effective waste management.
Also, an 11-member ‘E-Waste National Campaign Committee’ was formed in the meeting to increase awareness at the national level.
