DOT Desk
Plastic waste constitutes more than 60% of the litter found in the beaches of Bangladesh, according to a survey Bangladesh, as a part of the South Asian Seas (SAS) region, currently faces the worst case scenario of sea pollution due to plastic – one of the worst pollutants that are harming the seas and oceans around the world.
Marine litter or debris, which include plastic wastes, are the persistent, manufactured, processed solid material found in marine and coastal areas – predominantly the result of poor waste management – is a fundamental problem due to its harmful effect on the environment, wildlife and human health in the Bay of Bengal, says a country report based on the reviews of scientific and policy documents together with a recent preliminary survey on marine litter along four beaches of Bangladesh.
The report, titled “National Status including Database, Proposed Recycling Enterprise and Interventions on Marine Litter,” is the outcome of a South Asian Seas Program (SASP) called the Preparation of Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter in the SAS region.
The Department of Environment under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change prepared the report, is the first of its kind in Bangladesh, with technical support from the South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP) and funding from the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep).
According to the report, marine litter reaches the ocean from the land through river runoff, drainage system, wind action and intentional or unintentional discharge of materials in the sea due to human activities.
A total of 6,705 pieces of waste products were found on a 18.5km stretch of the four sea beaches – Laboni and Inani in Cox’s Bazar, and Ananda Bazar and Patenga in Chittagong – in Bangladesh during the survey.
Among the litter, 63% were found to be plastic, 13% foamed plastic, 2% cloth, 1% glass and ceramic, 1% metal, 9% paper and cardboard, 3% rubber, 1% wood, and 7% other materials.
Plastic bags were found to be the most common type of litter: at least 2,182 pieces of plastic bags were found on the beaches. The survey also found 589 pieces of insulation and packaging foam, 470 pieces of cigarette butts and filters, and 300 bottles.
The survey also found bottle caps and lids, drums, jerry cans, buckets, disposable utensils, straws, stirrers, drink packaging, food containers, bags, gloves, cigarette lighters, syringes, baskets, crates and trays, mesh bags, fishing gear, and many other kinds of plastic waste on the four beaches.
The report made a number of recommendations to bring down and control the reckless dumping of plastic waste on the beaches.