Sylhet set to become country’s first plastic pollution-free city
Initiatives were taken to further expand modern waste management activities with the aim of transforming Sylhet into the country’s first plastic pollution-free city. As part of this effort, plans are underway to establish the country’s first ‘Bio-drying Plant’ within the Sylhet City Corporation (SCC).
LafargeHolcim Bangladesh will assist the SCC in implementing this initiative.
This information was shared on Monday at a seminar titled “A Roadmap to Become a Plastic Pollution-Free City,” jointly organised by LafargeHolcim Bangladesh and the Sylhet City Corporation at a city hotel to mark “Geocycle Week 2026.”
Speaking as the chief guest at the seminar held on Monday, Sylhet City Corporation Administrator Abdul Quiyum Chowdhury said, “We want to build a modern city free from plastic pollution.
Transforming Sylhet into a clean and green city requires not only local government initiatives but also public participation and the effective implementation of existing laws and regulations.”
The SCC Administrator noted that urban waste management is a major challenge, yet the SCC continues to work consistently in this area. He emphasized that the City Corporation’s efforts alone are not enough to build a clean and modern city; residents must also be aware.
He urged citizens to dispose of waste in designated areas rather than littering with plastic and other refuse indiscriminately.
He further added that the City Corporation aims to develop Sylhet into a clean, green, and eco-friendly city through a combination of strategic partnerships, modern infrastructure, and public awareness.
At the beginning of the seminar, an audio-visual presentation showcasing the activities of ‘Geocycle’-LafargeHolcim Bangladesh’s waste management division-was screened.
Subsequently, Lt. Col. (Retd.) Mohammad Eklim Abedin, the Chief Waste Management Officer of the SCC, delivered a presentation on the waste management operations in Sylhet city. Latifur Rahman, Head of Geocycle, highlighted Geocycle’s municipal waste management activities.
The seminar also discussed the progress and operations of the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) located at the city’s Lalmatia dumping ground.
Established in 2024 through a joint initiative between the Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) and LafargeHolcim Bangladesh, this plant separates plastic and other non-biodegradable materials from the city’s waste. The separated plastic is sent to LafargeHolcim’s Geocycle plant in Chhatak for safe co-processing.
Building on the MRF’s operations, the SCC and LafargeHolcim Bangladesh are planning to implement a bio-drying project.
It was explained at the seminar that bio-drying technology utilizes the natural metabolic heat of microorganisms and controlled airflow to reduce excess moisture in waste. This process makes the waste suitable for use as fuel.
Mohammad Rezai Rafin Sarkar, Chief Executive Officer of the SCC, stated that long-term, sustainable solutions for solid waste management are essential to keep pace with urbanisation.
The SCC is working to establish Sylhet as a national model for waste management. The aim is to make the city free from plastic pollution by modernizing the MRF.
Mohammad Iqbal Chowdhury, Chief Executive Officer of LafargeHolcim Bangladesh, said that the company is working towards sustainable development and the reduction of carbon emissions through Geocycle.
The partnership with the Sylhet City Corporation not only prevents plastic waste from ending up in landfills and rivers but also creates opportunities for safe co-processing.
Other key speakers at the seminar included Sama Haque Chowdhury, Director of the Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Md. [Name], Director of the Department of Environment, Sylhet.
Abul Kalam Azad; Shipon Chowdhury, Deputy Inspector General of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (Sylhet); and Dr. Md. Salatul Islam Majumder, Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Polymer Science at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology.
Officials from various government agencies-including the Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) and the Department of Environment-along with environmentalists, academicians, media personnel, and representatives of the youth, attended the seminar.
