Participants in a roundtable on Thursday called for the immediate need for Bangladesh to adopt a 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) approach to combat the country's mounting waste crisis.

At the 12th episode of the "SDG Café" series hosted by UNOPS Bangladesh, they also called for stronger waste management systems, the enforcement of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and innovation in waste collection and recycling methods.

“Inadequate infrastructure, lack of waste segregation, and poorly managed landfills are causing significant environmental damage. The volume of waste is expected to double every 15 years, and our current system cannot keep pace,” said Dr Rowshan Mamtaz, Professor of Environmental Engineering at BUET.

She emphasized the need for a comprehensive waste segregation system at the household level. “The government must prioritize waste segregation, and EPR should be enforced to develop a sustainable framework,” she said.

Sudhir Muralidharan, UNOPS Bangladesh Country Manager, echoed the need for comprehensive waste management reform.

He said, “Solid waste management is not just about disposal but also about reshaping our consumption patterns and making sustainability a priority. We must hold businesses accountable for their environmental impacts and invest in research and development of alternatives to single-use plastics.”

The participants, including government, private sector, and civil society stakeholders, also highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships and educational reforms.

"We must integrate waste management into the school curriculum to drive long-term behavioural change,” said one of the participants during the discussion.

UNOPS reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable development.

Muralidharan said, “As part of our World Environment Day 2024 initiative, UNOPS Bangladesh has declared a Single-Use Plastic-Free office while actively integrating sustainable environmental practices.”

As Bangladesh works to meet its Agenda 2030 targets, participants expressed optimism about creating resilient, sustainable cities for future generations through collaboration and innovation.