Under pressure: can Bangladesh bypass plastic?

One of my greatest pre-teen projects was when I decided it was high time I had my own private pool. So, with no real plan and no real plan, I started digging in the backyard of my family’s apartment. I even managed to find a sturdy shovel, although I don’t remember how. I just remember digging for hours, often getting my shovel stuck in plastic bags buried in the ground.

It was frustrating, but I was determined and I doubt I would have noticed the plastic on my path as an 11-year-old. 16 years later I am finally able to understand the severity of the plastic problem that I was blissfully unaware of all those years. Unfortunately, I think it has only gotten worse over time.

So when I read two weeks ago (9 September) that from 1 October supermarkets would no longer be allowed to use single-use plastic bags and instead would have to offer customers cloth or jute alternatives, as the advisor on environment, forests and climate change mentioned, it made sense. The advisor – Syeda Rizwana Hasan – also briefly suggested that there would be a major public and media campaign in the following weeks, and a trade fair by 30 September to ensure that manufacturers were aware of the green alternatives.

The average person in Dhaka uses about six kilograms of plastic per year, which is nothing compared to Japan, where plastic consumption per person is about 71.2 kg per year, but Japan seems to be doing better because it is much better at managing plastic than we are.

While this sounds good on paper (and, I might add, equally commendable), I had some concerns about this initiative.

First of all, I was a bit disappointed by how little comprehensive information I could find about the ban. If such a ban were to succeed, it would require careful planning and, frankly, a quest guide accompanied by a comprehensive list of FAQs. Not because it’s a topic we’ve never heard of before, but because it’s an enemy as old and recurring as Sauron was in Middle-earth, and we need to have a solid battle plan if we’re to defeat the enemy.

The plastic problem is a very real concern for Bangladesh. The country ranks very high in the world in terms of plastic pollution. We generate almost 600,000 tons (579,900 tons) of plastic waste per year, of which about 336,000 tons is generated in Dhaka alone. Most of this plastic is poorly managed, with only 5% of plastic waste ending up in formal landfills.

To put this in perspective, Germany is accused of mismanaging about 1% of its plastic waste, compared to a staggering 95% in Bangladesh. You would think that means we use significantly more plastic than other countries, right? Surprisingly, it doesn’t.

For a single-use plastic ban to be successful in the long term, both companies and consumers need time to adapt. Companies are focused on profits, while consumers are looking for affordability, so a gradual phase-out is more effective than a sudden ban.

The average person in Dhaka uses about six kilograms of plastic per year, which is nothing compared to Japan, where plastic consumption per person is about 71.2 kg per year. However, Japan seems to be doing better, as it is much better at managing plastic than we are.

This mismanagement is rampant in Bangladesh because we lack regulation. Bangladesh has taken several initiatives to reduce plastic pollution so far. The country was one of the first countries in the world to introduce a plastic ban in 2002 to mitigate flood-related problems.

In 2020, the Supreme Court banned single-use plastics in coastal hotels and motels, as it has done in the rest of the country. The government also adopted a national action plan to recycle, phase out and reduce plastic waste by 2025, 2026 and 2030 respectively.

Even so, due to government laxity and the broader population’s disregard for the law, Bangladesh remains one of the world’s top 10 plastic pollution hotspots, and single-use plastic remains a persistent part of our ever-growing list of national problems. And that’s one reason I was wary of resorting to another plastic ban anytime soon.

Plastic is more than just another “problem,” it also holds the promise of financial stability and economic mobility that we simply cannot deny. So a ban may not be in the best interests of those currently employed in the sector unless the ban addresses how it fairly transitions those workers to a greener sector

Truth be told, at the same time, I also feel hopeful because single-use plastic bags have often been labeled as the main cause of pollution in the country, so reducing their use will help to some extent. But while doing so, we must not forget that bans do not succeed because they are rarely well thought out and are often used as a tool for political performance.

For a single-use plastic ban to be successful in the long term, both companies and consumers need time to adapt. Companies are focused on profits, while consumers are looking for affordability, so a gradual phase-out is more effective than a sudden ban.

For example, Denmark introduced a plastic bag tax in 1993, which led to a significant reduction in the country’s plastic use. In 2020, the country had one of the lowest plastic bag consumption rates in Europe, with just four plastic bags used per person per year.

In England, the small charge for single-use bags in supermarkets has fallen dramatically in just six years, and between 2015 and 2021 the country has seen a 95% drop in the use of plastic bags in supermarkets. And it’s not just ‘developed’ countries that are doing it right – many others are winning the fight against plastic too!

In South Asia, several countries have also made significant progress in combating plastic pollution. Mumbai’s 2019 plastic ban, coupled with public awareness campaigns, led to a drastic reduction in plastic use, while Sri Lanka’s 2017 ban on single-use plastics showed early signs of success with increased recycling rates and alternative uses for products.

While some countries are quick to propose bans in the race to become environmentalists, the key may lie in a more subtle and considered approach, similar to that taken in Bhutan, where the country’s zero-waste strategy has seen it adopt strict laws and cultural practices to reduce plastic waste, achieving an impressive 70% recycling rate.

These examples show that with the right approach – often a harmonious combination of sound government initiatives, best business practices and ethical consumer habits – change is possible.

However, when making such a change, you need to be sure that it will benefit everyone.

Since the country dipped its toes into the plastics industry in the 1960s, it has grown steadily, employing some two million people. For them, plastic isn’t just another monster to slay, it’s their livelihood.

These skilled and trained workers are not only very good at their jobs but also contribute to the national and global economy. Bangladesh’s plastics sector is worth about $3 billion annually, and the country earned about $150 million from plastics exports in 2021-22.

The government will need to provide businesses with resources and incentives to switch to green alternatives, while consumers need to be encouraged to adopt these changes through campaigns and accessible, affordable options. And we have such options readily available too

So plastic is more than just another “problem,” it also holds the promise of financial stability and economic mobility that we simply cannot deny. So a ban may not be in the best interests of those currently employed in the sector unless the ban addresses how it fairly transitions those workers to a greener sector.

The ban should also clarify what happens to single-use plastic bags that have already been produced or are in production. Do they end up in landfills, incinerators, or are they waiting to be re-entered into the market in a few months?

As the October deadline approaches, I eagerly await a comprehensive government strategy (many already exist) to make this particular ban work. The proposed ban on single-use plastics may be a defining moment, but the real test will come in the months and years ahead.

For this ban to have a significant impact, it must be accompanied by strong enforcement, public awareness, and a clear plan to support those who depend on the plastics industry for their livelihoods. If we have learned anything from previous efforts, it is that the success of such initiatives depends on collaboration.

Government will need to provide businesses with resources and incentives to switch to green alternatives, while consumers need to be encouraged to adopt these changes through campaigns and accessible, affordable options. And such options are also readily available.

For example, Sonali Bag, a biodegradable, single-use plastic alternative, could be a great solution that would be welcomed by consumers if it was marketed wisely. However, the relatively high cost of the bags (Tk 8-10 per bag) compared to polythene (Tk 3-5 per kg) is a challenge that can be overcome with significant investment in scaling up plastic alternatives.

But politics alone will not solve the problem – sustained pressure from the public and media will be needed to hold stakeholders accountable.

Bangladesh’s plastic problem didn’t happen overnight, and it’s not unique to our country, so it’s safe to say it won’t be resolved anytime soon. But the new ban, under new leadership, offers a chance to finally address one of the country’s most persistent environmental and public health challenges.

We can’t just sit back and take this issue in stride, saying “not in my backyard,” because a recent study found that 81% of tap water samples collected worldwide contained plastic contaminants. That means the average person probably ingests between 3,000 and 4,000 microplastics through tap water per year.

Unless you can afford to drink imported Himalayan spring water every day, which may contain traces of microplastics (sorry!).

So it’s up to all of us — policymakers, businesses, ordinary citizens, and aspiring pool diggers — to make sure this ban doesn’t just remain another political gesture, but a real step toward a cleaner, more sustainable future. If not for ourselves, then at least we have to think of Nemo, Flounders, Baileys, and Spongebob, who couldn’t be more grateful if they didn’t have to get tangled up and chemically incinerated in our plastic waste during their daily commutes. And please don’t let a thousand-word manifesto of a nostalgic adult just go to waste, please? After all, I had a few panic attacks while writing this article.

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Marzana Tasnim. File photo: courtesy of

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Marzana Tasnim. File photo: courtesy of