Dhaka, 28 January, 2020: More than ten thousand ton of laminated plastic waste is generated from different sources in Dhaka every year, which causes health hazards and environmental havoc. ESDO has conducted a Study on “Thermal lamination films: An Incising Health Hazards and Environmental Havoc of Dhaka City”, which focused exclusively on laminated posters, leaflets, stickers being used in the city. Study findings were disclosed through a press briefing arranged by Environment and Social Development Organization-ESDO on 28 January, 2020, Tuesday at its Head Office.
According to the study in 2019 about 7145.2 ton of laminated plastic waste was generated and in 2020 it’s expected to hit up to 10438 ton. These plastics are not recyclable, so it may cause serious health and environmental problem for the city dwellers. ESDO urged for immediate preventive actions in this regard for the sake of public health and environmental protection. Particularly they requested to the Bangla Academy authority and others exhibitors to stop and not to allow laminated poster, leaflets, and sticker in the upcoming Amar Ekushey Bookfair, tradeshows and exhibitions scheduled throughout 2020.
In the briefing, ESDO Chairperson Syed Marghub Murshed informed that, as ESDO started its campaign against laminated posters and other plastic coated materials at the beginning of the two DCC election campaign; taking into account the issue, High Court division ordered authorities concerned to immediately stop production and display of laminated election posters in order to save environment on January 22, 2020. The court also asked the authorities to properly dispose the laminated posters which have already been produced and displayed in Dhaka, ahead of the city corporation elections. ESDO hope that this situation will be considered seriously and steps to regulate and ban such plastic coating will be taken immediately.
ESDO conducted the study on potential generation of laminated plastic waste in Dhaka from 6 most prominent sources including – DSCC and DNCC Election, Newspaper Supplements, Dhaka International Trade fair, Amar Ekushey Bookfair, scheduled large scale fairs, exhibitions and tradeshows and other advertising leaflets provided by restaurants, beauty parlors and commercial institutes. This year, an estimated 304 million plastic laminated posters have been printed and displayed by the DCC election candidates.Other than the posters, stickers, general cards and volunteer ID cards used for promotional purpose are also covered with plastic lamination sheets. Estimated 2472 ton of laminated plastic waste are generated within 12 days of the DSCC & DNCC elections campaign started.
Daily Newspapers is another means of plastic laminated material distribution in Dhaka city. ESDO Study finds that, most popular newspapers with significantly higher circulation come with at least one plastic laminated advertising leaflet on regular basis. Apparently, an estimated 227 tons of wastes is coming from the laminated leaflet materials provided with the popular daily newspapers. For the study purpose, top 5 Newspapers have been considered in this regard.
Syed Marghub Murshed said, considering the gravity of the plastic pollution situation, ESDO, along with the other NGO’s did a writ petition to the High Court Division. This resulted in an order to the authorities concerned to enforce ban on polythene bag and stop using single-use plastic by 2021.
Dr. ShahriarHossain informed that, this laminated plastic waste eventually find their way into dump stations and drains resulting in massive plastic pollution. He said,these single used plastic wastes will create serious waste management and environmental hazards, those leading to epidemic of water and airborne disease.
ESDO Chairperson and Former Secretary Syed MarghubMurshed, Principle Technical Advisor-ESDO Professor Abu JafarMahmood, MdZiaulHaque, Director DoE; Secretary General of ESDO Dr. ShahriarHossain; Executive Director Siddika Sultana and Executive Board Member ShahnazMunir were present with other study team members of ESDO.
Background Information:
In 1989, under the leadership of Dr. ShahriarHossain a few enthusiastic people initiated anti polythene campaigning in Bangladesh. ESDO is the first organization initiated campaign against the single use plastic shopping bag in 1990 and organized a nation-wide anti-polythene campaign. After long efforts ESDO is succeeded to ban the production and use of polythene in January 1, 2002 in Dhaka city and March 1, 2002 in countrywide. Now ESDO is focusing on banning Single-Use Plastics (SUP).This resulted in an order to the authorities concerned to enforce ban on polythene bag and stop using single-use plastic by 2021.
For more Information:
Nazma Ahmed
Program Associate
Email:nazma@esdo.org
Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO)