Plastic industry leaders call for systematic control of plastic

Plastic industry leaders have called for a systematic management of plastic goods and waste rather than imposition of bans for the sake of sustainable and environment-friendly growth of the plastic industry.
Countries that have had a systematic and other means of controlling plastic use are more successful in managing plastic than those countries that have banned plastic, they added.
Industry leaders made the call at a seminar titled "Plastic Waste Recycling for Sustainability and Investment" held in the capital.
The seminar was jointly organised by Plastic Products Business Promotion Council (PPBPC), Ministry of Commerce and Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPGMEA).
"Bangladesh has banned plastic bag in 2002, but it is being used manyfold during this period like if it was a tonne, now it is 10 tonne a day," said BPGMEA President Shamim Ahmed, adding that a ban couldn't not cut the use of plastic as plastic is not the problem rather how we use and manage it.
He also urged policymakers to take industry friendly and sustainable plastic policy as they are facing a number of challenges due to the existing policy that largely blame plastic as a means of pollution.
About 45.55 billion polythene bags are used in the country yearly while according to the Environment and Social Development Organisation (ESDO), over 25 million single-use polythene bags are thrown away in Dhaka every day.
Bangladesh per capita plastic use is expected to rise to 35kg from the current 15kg but due to the weak management, how the government will manage it, he questioned, suggesting policy support to the industry.
Other factory owners claimed that they face a number of challenges as they have to collect so many clearances from a number of government agencies.
Large industrial companies in the plastic sector are doing waste management by setting up recycling plants in their own backyards.
Also, various organisations are coming forward to invest in this sector. As a result, about 30 per cent of plastic waste is currently being recycled, they added.
However, policy restriction is a challenge to collect necessary raw materials for the recycling industry, they added.
Bangladesh doesn't allow waste import citing its environmental hazards. Monsurul Alam, additional secretary at the ministry of commerce, said that a technology centre would be set up soon to promote sustainable growth of the industry and to disseminate technological knowledge.
Md Salim Uddin, secretary of the commerce ministry, addressed the event as the chief guest.
Chief Nahid Afroz, chief executive officer of the Business Promotion Council (BPC), and Md Amin Helaly, senior vice-president of the FBCCI, were present as special guests.
Prof Kazi Bayzid Kabir, a teacher of chemical engineering department at BUET, presented the keynote paper.

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