Large-scale waste-to-energy incineration projects could undermine public health

Environmental experts, civil society representatives and waste pickers have urged the government to adopt evidence-based waste management policies, warning that large-scale waste-to-energy (WTE) incineration projects could undermine public health, the recycling industry and the livelihoods of thousands of informal waste workers.
The concerns were raised at a seminar titled “Waste-to-Energy: Impacts on the Environment, Public Health, Recycling Industry, and the Livelihoods of Waste Pickers”, organised by GramBangla Unnayan Committee at the Shafqul Kabir Auditorium of the Dhaka Reporters Unity on Wednesday.
The event brought together representatives from government institutions, development partners, environmental organisations, researchers, journalists and waste picker groups to discuss the potential implications of proposed WTE projects in Bangladesh.
The seminar was presided over by Aminul Islam Bakul, while Bangladesh Waste Pickers Union President Rina Begum and Secretary General Kulsum Begum, who is also President of the Earth Foundation, participated in the discussion.
Presenting the keynote paper, A K M Maksud, Executive Director of GramBangla Unnayan Committee, said Bangladesh faces an escalating waste management challenge as rapid urbanisation continues to increase the volume of municipal waste.
He said the world currently generates around 2.24 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, a figure expected to rise to 3.88 billion tonnes by 2050. Bangladesh’s urban areas are projected to produce approximately 17.2 million tonnes of municipal solid waste each year, making environmentally sound and socially inclusive waste management increasingly important.
Referring to proposed waste-to-energy projects in Dhaka, Barishal and other parts of the country, Maksud said incineration is often promoted as a solution for both waste disposal and electricity generation. However, he warned that it also raises significant environmental, economic, public health and social concerns.
He noted that municipal waste in Bangladesh is largely mixed and contains high levels of moisture, making large-scale incineration technically difficult and reducing its efficiency in generating energy.
The keynote paper argued that waste incineration requires a continuous supply of combustible materials, which could compete directly with efforts to reduce, reuse, recycle and compost waste.
Speakers observed that recyclable materials, including plastics, paper, cardboard and textiles, are valuable resources that sustain Bangladesh’s recycling industry and circular economy. Burning these materials, they said, could reduce resource recovery and increase dependence on virgin raw materials.
Participants also highlighted possible public health risks associated with waste incineration. They said the process could generate toxic air pollutants, hazardous ash and persistent organic pollutants if not properly managed, posing risks to nearby communities, workers and the environment.
A major focus of the seminar was the possible impact of WTE projects on informal waste workers.
GramBangla Unnayan Committee shared findings from a grassroots multi-stakeholder consultation held on 28 June at Haddipot in Aminbazar, where waste pickers, scrap dealers and community representatives discussed the proposed North Dhaka Waste-to-Energy project.
According to the findings, waste pickers expressed concern that access to landfill sites could be restricted, recyclable materials diverted to incineration and mechanised sorting systems introduced, gradually replacing manual waste recovery.
Participants feared such changes would significantly reduce their incomes and weaken the informal recycling network that supports thousands of workers and their families.
The consultation found that around 200 to 250 waste pickers work directly in the Haddipot area, while an estimated 2,500 people depend on the wider informal recycling chain across neighbouring communities.
Addressing the seminar, Maksud said waste management policies should protect both people and the environment.
“Energy recovery must not come at the cost of public health, recycling, or the livelihoods of waste pickers. Bangladesh should strengthen waste reduction, reuse, recycling, composting and Zero Waste approaches while ensuring a just transition that leaves no one behind,” he said.
Speakers stressed that waste pickers play a crucial role in recovering recyclable materials, reducing landfill waste and supporting the country’s recycling economy.
They called for stronger implementation of the government’s 3R (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) Strategy, stricter enforcement of existing waste management regulations, expansion of composting and material recovery facilities, and greater investment in green jobs and circular economy initiatives.
Sharing her concerns, waste picker Kulsum Begum said, “We survive by collecting recyclable materials from the landfill. If the waste is burned instead of recycled, we will lose our income and many families will have no way to earn a living.”
Rina Begum added, “We are not against improving waste management, but any new project should protect our jobs, our health and our future. If the project goes ahead, the government must ensure alternative livelihoods and support for waste pickers.”
The seminar concluded with a call for sustainable waste management policies that prioritise environmental protection, climate resilience, public health and social justice.
Participants urged policymakers, development partners and financial institutions to ensure that future waste management investments protect the rights and livelihoods of informal waste workers while promoting recycling, composting and Zero Waste systems.
GramBangla Unnayan Committee reaffirmed its commitment to working with communities, policymakers and development partners to advance inclusive, rights-based and environmentally sustainable waste management solutions in Bangladesh.