Plastic waste threatens to environment and biodiversity

Md. Zillur Rahaman :
Plastic products have a huge problem, especially once used all over the world and for Bangladesh the problem is more obvious and frightening. Because the people of this country are quite unaware of the use of plastic products. They are going to use plastic so they are behaving, that’s why we are surrounded by plastic waste. Plastic waste poses a serious risk to the country’s environment, public health and biodiversity. Recently, on 20 December 2021, a research report prepared by the World Bank for the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, entitled ‘Towards a Multisectoral Action Plan for Sustainable Plastic Management in Bangladesh’, stated that its use in urban areas has tripled in the last 15 years, this means that in 2005 the per capita consumption of plastic in other cities outside Dhaka was 3 kg, in 2020 it has increased to 9 kg. In Dhaka city it has increased from 9 kg to about 23 kg. About 10 percent of the country’s annual waste comes from plastic products, 48 per cent of it falls to the ground and 37 per cent is reused, 12 per cent fell into canals anendangered.nd 3 per cent goes to the drain and mixes. Most of the plastic falling on the ground is used as polythene bags, product packaging and packets. About half of this plastic remains in soil and water and creates deadly pollution, threatens public health. Not only that, these plastics are accumulating in the rivers, canals and drains of the country and increasing the water retention. Concerns are growing about this and the environment and biodiversity are being endangered.
It was informed that the government has made a plan to halve the use of plastic in the country by 2030 to overcome this situation. In addition, the World Bank- assisted plan emphasises increasing recycling of plastics. It is said to have been made as part of an action plan to control the use and pollution of plastics in the country. The programme also summarised an action plan to control the use of plastics between 2021 and 2030. It called for a 50 percent reduction in the production of plastic products, a 30 per cent reduction in plastic waste and a 50 per cent recycling of plastics by 2026.
Plastic waste in the capital alone has more than tripled since the country banned polythene in the last two decades, which is a worrying figure. However, there is no initiative to recycle plastic or make an alternative to polythene. Due to the unawareness of the city dwellers, life, nature, environment and biodiversity are heading towards dire consequences. Despite the government’s talk of using jute bags instead of polythene, the country’s jute mills are slowly closing down. As a result, people are losing interest in using jute bags day by day. It has been seen that most of the plastic bottles are found by cleaning the canals and drains of the capital and this is the reason why waterlogging is created in the capital as soon as it rains. After use, these things are thrown in different water bodies and everywhere, so later it is flowing into the Bay of Bengal as a river. Aquatic animals are taking it from there. Through these animals it is entering our food cycle. As a result, it is becoming a serious threat to the environment and public health day by day.
In fact, plastic bottles or polythene bags are the last refuge in ocean after crossing canals, ponds, sewers, rivers, etc. The marine environment is being seriously endangered due to plastic waste; The helpless animals are dying tragically. According to one study, plastic waste occupies upto 80% of the stomachs of some birds of the ocean! These are not digested, causing the birds to slowly die of starvation.
It usually takes 15 to 1000 years for plastic to decompose. Plastic bags or materials are usually broken down into small pieces by sunlight. These tiny plastic particles absorb the toxins floating in the ocean and turn into a poisonous peel. In some cases, these tiny floating plastic particles in the ocean absorb more than 1,000 times more toxic wastes than the environment. Studies show that there are six pounds of plastic waste in the ocean, compared to one pound of plankton!
Plastics contain a chemical called phthalate, also known as plasticizer, which helps in softening the plastic. These pellets can be mixed with food or water from plastic materials. Phthalate also acts as a synthetic estrogen (responsible for feminine nature). Phthalate causes hormonal imbalance in the animal’s body and reduces or eliminates fertility. Synthetic estrogen can convert male fish or animals into female fish or animals. As a result, the sex ratio of any species may be lost and that species of fish or marine animal may become extinct. The most alarming thing is that the use of this harmful phthalate is very widespread. From packaging materials to pharmaceuticals, toys, car parts, cosmetics, detergents, paints, electrical items, phthalates are being used everywhere. Plastics also contain a highly harmful plasticiser called Bisphenol-A, which acts as a synthetic estrogen. Research has shown that it can cause cancer and even damage fertility. The Canadian government recently banned the use of bisphenol.
About 100 million marine mammals die each year from plastic waste alone. The existence of the earth is due to the marine system. By providing food and oxygen, the oceans protect the earth’s fauna. The marine environment is being endangered due to our negligence and irresponsibility. We have to bear this responsibility of environmental pollution, that is why we have to take specific steps to protect future generations.
It may be mentioned that the production, marketing and use of plastic polythene was banned by law in 2002. The law states that if a person produces, imports or markets prohibited polythene products, he can be sentenced to 10 years imprisonment or a fine of up to Tk. 10 lakh or even both. According to the Department of Environment, from 2015 to 2021, a total of 2,897 operations have been carried out. In addition to fines, 91 people have been sentenced to various terms of imprisonment for using polythene. However, the reality is that banned polythene is being manufactured in about 1,200 factories across the country, including the capital. Most of them are based in old Dhaka. In Dhaka city alone, more than 20 million polythene bags are used and discarded once a day. According to the World Bank, the capital used to produce an average of 178 tons of plastic waste per day in 2005, while the figure for 2020 stands at 646 tons. These are filling up drains, drains, canals, ditches, etc., obstructing the flow of water and increasing the incidence of waterlogging in light rains.
Research has shown that plastic waste poses a serious danger not only to humans but also to marine life. A sea turtle eating these wastes was found dead on the beach. There is no sign of any external injury but an autopsy revealed the real mystery. Turtles can be called opportunistic creatures, the huge yawn that gets in front, swallows everything. In this way, the tortoise swallows the sea waste and dies quickly as it cannot digest food at one stage.
A study published in the Journal of Science of the Total Environment, published in November last year, found that 87 per cent of the country’s polythene and plastic waste was not being disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner. The amount of plastic waste generated every day in Bangladesh is not even a month’s worth of plastic waste in many countries. According to another data, while the growth rate of organic waste in Bangladesh is 5.2 per cent, the growth rate of plastic waste is 7.5 per cent. About 61% of the people in the country are using polythene bags. These facts and figures are undoubtedly painful. We ourselves are infecting the food cycle, polluting the environment but everyone is indifferent, what could be more catastrophic than this!
In conclusion, the rate of misuse and misuse of polythene and plastic materials among the people is increasing day by day even though it is known to be harmful. On the other hand, the use of polythene plastic is not decreasing due to its cheap price and easy availability. It is important to end this situation. A popular alternative to polythene is to make jute fibre bags. Alternative use of polythene and recycling of recyclable plastics are essential to prevent contamination of plastic waste. As well as awareness among the people is urgent.

(Md. Zillur Rahaman is Banker and Freelance Columnist Satish Sarker Road, Gandaria, Dhaka. zrbbbp@gmail.com