City Desk :
Experts have warned that Bangladesh’s current healthcare waste management system falls significantly short of sustainable waste management principles, with 55% of solid waste in urban areas remaining uncollected, exacerbating pollution, public health risks and climate change.
Despite the severe consequences of inadequate legislation and the absence of a comprehensive waste management plan, Bangladesh lacks a dedicated authority to oversee this critical issue, reports UNB.
The country’s medical waste generation is increasing at an estimated rate of 3% per year, with overall waste production standing at approximately 25,000 tonnes per day. Dhaka alone manages nearly 6,500 tonnes daily, a figure projected to rise to 8,500 tonnes by 2032.
Meanwhile, South Asia generates over 1.5 million tonnes of solid waste daily, with only 40% being collected and less than 10% recycled, according to the World Bank. A study titled Healthcare Waste in Bangladesh: Current Status, the Impact of Covid-19, and Sustainable Management with Life Cycle and Circular Economy Framework predicts that, excluding surges due to Covid-19 and other medical emergencies, Bangladesh will generate approximately 50,000 tonnes of medical waste (1.25 kg per bed per day) in 2025, of which 12,435 tonnes will be hazardous. Research published in 2022 found that medical waste generation in Dhaka ranges between 1.63 kg and 1.99 kg per bed per day, a figure that significantly increased after the Covid-19 pandemic.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) established five medical waste management facilities in Cox’s Bazar district between 2015 and 2021. Despite such initiatives, medical waste management challenges persist, particularly in areas with vulnerable populations.
