‘Waste management must be part of climate action’

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo has called for integrating waste management and resource reuse into global climate action, saying they are essential to building climate resilience and promoting sustainable economic development.

He made the call at a high-level panel discussion titled “Can Growth Outrun Waste?”, organised by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in the Blue Zone of the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Antalya, Turkiye, on Friday (November 13).

According to a message received in Dhaka on Saturday, Mintoo said waste management was particularly important for climate-vulnerable countries such as Bangladesh, where floods often affect drainage systems and waste disposal facilities.

He said the circular economy was not simply a matter of environmental protection but also a means of strengthening climate resilience, safeguarding public health, creating jobs and supporting sustainable economic growth.

The minister stressed the need for international financing, modern technology and coordinated support from development partners to bring meaningful changes to the waste management sector.

More than 100 billion tonnes of materials and resources are consumed worldwide every year, but less than 10 per cent are reused, he said. This imbalance in production and consumption was increasing environmental pressure and wasting valuable resources.

He said the circular economy could help address these challenges while creating opportunities for investment and employment.

Highlighting Bangladesh’s initiatives, Mintoo said the country had formulated a 3R (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) Strategy and Solid Waste Management Rules to promote waste reduction and recycling.

An Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework had also been developed for plastic waste, while a similar mechanism for used lead-acid batteries was under development, he said.

The Department of Environment, in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), had established a common treatment facility for medical waste in Sirajganj. The initiative demonstrated the potential for environmentally sound and economically viable waste management, he added.

The government planned to expand such initiatives and attract investment in solid, medical, textile and electronic waste management, Mintoo said.

He said the government’s election manifesto included a commitment to adopting a circular economy-based development model.

Plans were also underway to establish Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) across the country to separate and recover recyclable materials, along with an e-waste recycling facility in every administrative division, he added.

The minister stressed that waste management infrastructure in Bangladesh must be designed to withstand floods, cyclones and other climate-related disasters.

“Infrastructure capable of withstanding floods, cyclones and other climate-related disasters is essential. Waste management facilities that become submerged during the monsoon season cannot be considered sustainable or climate-resilient infrastructure,” he said.

On international cooperation to address plastic pollution, Mintoo said the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) was being implemented in Bangladesh under a memorandum of understanding with the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP).

While the partnership initially focused on assessing plastic waste and preparing an action plan, the government was now considering a broader coordination mechanism, he said.

A proposed public-private steering group involving government agencies, industries and development partners would help coordinate initiatives, prevent duplication and identify implementation challenges at an early stage, he added.

The minister also referred to ongoing negotiations on an international treaty to address plastic pollution, saying discussions were increasingly focusing on product design and chemicals of concern.

He said Bangladesh needed to increase investment in resource efficiency, cleaner production and environmentally sustainable product design in preparation for future global decisions.

Calling for stronger international financial support, Mintoo proposed establishing a dedicated global investment platform for waste management, similar to the Climate Investment Funds that support clean energy projects.

Such a platform should prioritise waste prevention, followed by resource recovery, he said.

Bangladesh needed technical assistance, financing and effective international partnerships to establish sustainable waste management systems and advance the circular economy, he added.

The discussion focused on improving industrial competitiveness through the circular economy, increasing resource efficiency, reducing waste, creating green jobs and strengthening public-private partnerships.

Clemence Schmid, Director of Circular Economy Transformation and Global Plastic Action Partnership at the WEF, moderated the session. Dr Heike Henn, State Secretary at Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, and representatives from relevant sectors also took part.