Perspective: A municipality in Bangladesh is leading on plastic policy reform

Sayed Monjurul Hoque, Solid Waste Management Advisor, Water

Plastic remains cheap, accessible, and embedded in daily consumption patterns. While awareness of its environmental impact is growing, the development and uptake of scalable alternatives remain limited—despite steady advances in science and technology. Simultaneously, global efforts to address plastic pollution are ongoing, though progress can be slow. The postponement of a global plastics treaty during the INC-5 at Busan, for instance, is indicative of the complexity of reaching international consensus.

In the meantime, countries like Bangladesh are moving ahead with national government-led initiatives such as the National 3R Strategy (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) and Solid Waste Management Rules 2021, already laying the groundwork for a policy environment that promotes waste segregation and corporate accountability. An Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) guideline to reduce plastic waste and promote recycling is also in the works. The forthcoming guideline is expected to outline stakeholders’ accountability over the entire product life-cycle, including post-consumer waste management.

Still, a significant barrier remains: the absence of disaggregated data on solid waste—specifically, the different types of plastics—continues to hamper progress in tackling plastic pollution. Furthermore, the mass production and indiscriminate disposal of single-use plastics (SUPs) need urgent regulation. Unlike plastic bottles, for example, the majority of SUPs are not reused by consumers. Yet, there is momentum. The Government of Bangladesh has set ambitious targets to reduce single-use plastic usage by 90% in two years (by 2026) and increase plastic waste recycling to 80% by 2030.

Several companies—including small and medium-sized enterprises—are piloting source segregation and engaging in circular value chains, providing SUP bins to households for monthly collection or striking deals with temporary dumping landfill facilities managed by city conservancy departments or private sector to facilitate the return of SUPs to manufacturers. And, with a focus on data management, the country’s Department of Environment and SNV are exploring the potential of adopting the modality of the Integrated Municipality Information System (IMIS)—a digital management tool developed with support from the Dutch Government and the Gates Foundation for professional faecal sludge management services.

Some municipalities are taking this national ambition further—translating it into tangible, data-driven action on the ground.

Kushtia municipality, or paurushava, as a municipality is locally known—one of several recognised for investments in faecal sludge management—is among the frontrunners in tackling its solid waste management problem.  The paurashava has activated the process of gathering information on solid waste to tailor a more effective and sustainable waste management approach. 

Home to several large industries that generate a significant amount of plastic waste, the role of, and challenges faced by small to medium-enterprising scrap dealers in the local recycling industry is under closer examination to inform more inclusive and effective waste management policies. Since they serve as intermediaries between waste generators and recyclers, collecting data from scrap dealers gives a clearer understanding of the overall flow of plastic waste and the recycling processes involved. This information is important in sifting through the tons of plastic gathered and identifying which plastics are recyclable and valuable, from those that are not. It also gives the municipality authority insight into scrap dealers’ labour conditions and where improvements need to be made.

The paurashava understands it best: relevant and timely data matters. The municipality mobilised the support of young enumerators—in universities and yet to start their careers—in data gathering, input, and preliminary analysis. They conducted interviews and collected crucial registration information from businesses, including trade license numbers, the amount of inorganic waste disposed of, and the quantity of daily plastic collection. Close to 150 surveys were completed in nine days.

The collected data will be shared with the municipality authority in April to support evidence-based decision-making on plastic waste management. It is expected to guide the municipality in taking critical steps towards formalising small-to medium-scale scrap businesses; a key governmental priority under its zero-waste agenda.

As more municipalities begin to experiment with context-specific approaches, there is an opportunity to better connect local initiatives with broader systems thinking already underway in Bangladesh.

Strengthening connections between local practice and national strategy requires continued collaboration and support. With its partners, the Department of Environment, under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, is engaging local governments more holistically to implement SWM Rules and the National 3R Strategy, so that they can play their part in contributing to a circular economy, and support behavioural change communication strategies to raise consumer and producer awareness on proper and safe waste disposal. Private sector and startups, on the other hand, are introducing recycling incentives and smart waste tracking systems like GARBAGEMAN—Bangladesh’s first app-based recycling business, which contributes to a more efficient and sustainable waste management value chain and Bangladesh Petroleum Company Limited, “the only post-consumer PET bottle recycling plant” in the country.

Kushtia offers a quiet but powerful reminder: meaningful change begins with understanding our waste—where it comes from, who manages it, and what happens to it. The work unfolding in this municipality shows how data—when thoughtfully gathered and locally owned—can pave the way for more equitable and effective waste systems. This is what effective governance looks like—local ownership, national support, and decisions grounded in evidence and collaboration.

Bangladesh’s growing focus on policy, people, and partnerships signals a shift from fragmented clean-ups to long-term, equitable, and inclusive systemic thinking. While the road to a circular economy is far from straightforward, the steps being taken today carry the promise of a more accountable, sustainable and regenerative future.