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Name of the Project : “Plastic Waste Management in Chattogram City Corporation Area”
Funded by : Unilever Bangladesh Ltd (UBL).
Background And the Project Update
Chattogram City is the second largest city in Bangladesh. It consists 41 wards and area is approximately 155.4 Sq Km. Currently there are about 5.2 population are living in this city (www.macrotrends.net). In an average 3000 tons of solid waste is generated daily in Chattogram City. The City Corporation can collect 75% of waste (Waste Report, 2019-2020).
It means there is huge gap between the waste generation and collection. Such inadequate and uncontrolled waste management have an impact on urban environment such was waterlogging is caused by light rain. It was observed that plastic and polythene is a major portion of generated wastes is Chattogram city. It is percentage is about 8.8%. The collection and recycling of plastic waste is primarily a manual activity in Chattogram. There is no formal system for collecting the plastic waste in Chattogram. Generally, waste collectors (Private and Public) collect plastic wastes form source points. Many cases informal collectors as Tokai collect plastics wastes from open sources. The collected waste is sold ahead to small scrap shops/bhangari at a cheap price. Then the small scrap shops/bhangai sold the plastic to recycler. Finally, the recycler sold the processed plastic wastes to manufacturer.
Generally, waste pickers are reluctant to collect single use plastic (LDPE). Because they thought that it has no economic value and given more effort to collect significant volume. When YPSA discussed with the leaders of Chattogram Plastic Recycle Association, they said that good quality single use plastic (LDPE bags) has huge demand in local recycle market in Chattogram as well as in countrywide. Moreover, Chattogram Plastic Recycler are capable to recycle large volume of plastic waste. There are more 300 recyclers in Chattogram.
In that perspectives, YPSA has taken an approached by connecting the existing actors of plastic value chain through various actions as well as providing awareness campaign at households on plastic waste segregation at households. Alike provide capacity development training with incentive to waste pickers for LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene) collection. Similarly, provide capacity strengthen support to small scrap shops/entrepreneur/bhangari to manage large volume of single plastic.
This approach will ensure the bulk amount of single use plastic collection along with others plastic waste collection in Chattogram City. At the same time YPSA will provide necessary support to small entrepreneur/bhangari on makes market linkage with recycler. Concurrently, YPSA will have regular lobbying and advocacy with Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) to institutionalize this process. As a result, the City Corporation will direct the concerned ward councilors to provide necessary assistance to the entrepreneurs at the ward level. And will work in coordination with the project to raise awareness on plastic waste management in household’s level.
Finally, a comprehensive system will be developed on plastic waste management in the city and urban environment will be protected, city dwellers will have a good health and the intensity of waterlogging will be reduced.
YPSA identified stakeholders and relevant activities through a social resource mapping in 41 wards in Chattogram City Corporation. At this stage, YPSA organizes awareness sessions and trainings with waste pickers and CSOs to sensitize them on waste management and the importance of light polyethylene (SUP). YPSA has trained about 3000 waste pickers and brought about 2000 waste pickers under the special incentives. Alike, CSOs and waste pickers have made good coordination with the councilor office at the ward level. YPSA has inducted 156 CSOs in its activities and 170 CSOs have been trained. As a result, waste pickers increase the amount of SUP collected along with other wastes.
Besides, YPSA has spread the message of waste management to about 41,250 people through 165 religious centers and conducted 41 meetings with mahalla/para committees and organized school campaigns to 65 educational institutions for waste segregation at the household level. Also, YPSA organized miking program in 41 wards. The purpose of miking is to separate waste at the household level. YPSA has formed 41 waste management committees in 41 wards for follow-up and sustainability of Waste Management. They are currently monitoring the waste management activities at the ward level. Also, YPSA developed leaflets, stickers, and posters for public awareness.
As well as, YPSA organized Youth Champions of the Environment-2022, 2023, 2024 to engage and involve youth in plastic waste management. Awardees and participating youth members are contributing to the implementation of their ideas in the local community. As well as YPSA developed and formed 41 youth volunteer group in the city and provided them Youth Environment Journalism Training. In addition, YPSA awarded Best 20 CSO and Best 40 Waste Pickers for exemplary contribution to waste management. As well as YPSA published a social resource mapping booklet and 5 Video Documentary.
In continuation of the activity, 156 CSO’s are associated with the waste collection activities in the City Corporation area through about 1873 waste pickers. From June 2022 to March 2025, 23664.374 tons of plastic waste has been collected through the CSOs, out of which 8024.691 tons is rigid plastic waste and 15639.685 tons is single use plastic (light polyethylene).
CSOs are sending the waste to different places of the country including Chattogram for manufacturing. YPSA organizes regular meetings and awareness sessions with 141 recyclers. To enhance the health safety of waste pickers in waste pickers and speed up waste collection, YPSA provided 100 bins at necessary and important places, 110 plastic bags for waste segregation at household level, provided healthy PP sets to 2000 waste pickers to ensure health protection of recovery point-based waste pickers and 100 large bags to CSOs to facilitate waste segregation as a model. As well as YPSA provided 3 color bin to CCC authorized School for practice waste segregation process.
At the start of the project, YPSA conducted a baseline study of plastic-waste collection of CSOs in the Chattogram City Corporation area. Through the study, YPSA learned that CSOs collect single use but this is very little compared to the generation of waste. YPSA has been able to increase the level of collection of single use plastics through trainings of waste pickers and CSO and providing incentives. As a result, The present scenario is that the level of collection of SUP has tripled from before.
Project Goal
Enhanced Plastic Waste Management in Chattogram City Corporation Area
Project Objectives
- To support the waste actors on collection of more plastic wastes in the city;
- To develop a ward basis enterprise model on plastic waste management in Chattogram City Corporation Area;
- To strengthen the capacity of CCC on plastic waste management;
- To make the city corporation more interested in plastic waste management
- To increase the knowledge of households on plastic waste management;
Expected Results
- Household used to on segregation of plastic waste from household level;
- Waste Pickers will receive quality plastic and economically gained;
- Waste pickers motivated to collect uncollected single use plastic;
- The recycler will receive bulk and quality plastic for recycle;
- CCC will realize the importance of single use plastic collection and necessary action will be taken to support the process;
- A collaborative spirit will be created among YPSA, Unilever and Chattogram City Corporation.
- A Comprehensive model will be developed on plastic waste management in CCC;
- About 8,000 tons of plastic will be collected in the next one year and it will be recognized by the City
- The prevalence rate of waterlogging will be reduced and increased the beauty of urban
Project Funded by : Unilever Bangladesh Ltd (UBL).
Working Area: Chattogram City Corporation Area.
Target Group:
Households, waste picker (private, public), CSO (Cleaning Service Organization) Feriwalas, Small Scrap Shops/Bhangari/Small Entrepreneur, Recycler, Manufacturer and Chattogram City Corporation.
Project Activities
Output-01: Improved the Livelihood of waste pickers and CSO
- Capacity Building Training to Entrepreneur/CSO with Recyclers (Small Business Fair)
- Capacity Building Training to Waste Pickers
- Protective safety gear support to recovery point-based waste pickers (under CSO) Need Base and Prioritize Torch/lighter
- Cash Incentive (3 Taka)
- Health Insurance coverage to CSO and Waste Pickers
- First Aid box for CSO and Waste Picker
Output-02: CSO’s are formalized and in better Plastic in Plastic Waste Management of Chattogram
- Formalization of CSO in Plastic Waste Management Business/Support for registration (trade license) of CSO
- Monthly Coordination Meeting with Ward Office/Councillor
- Digitalization of waste pickers collection value chain
- Enterprise Development (Plastic Waste Management)
Output-03: Improved behavioral change of urban dwellers on proper Plastic Waste Management in Chattogram
- Youth Meeting (Bi-monthly) for promoting source segregation practices and Youth Journalist Meeting
- Training of Youth in Environment Journalism- 03Days
- Youth Champions of the Environment -CTG Division Wise
- Day Observation (Volunteers Day/youth day)
- School Program
- Orientation to City Corporation school teacher to teach the student on source segregation
- Clean Environment School Campaign/ ToT for School Student
- 3 Bins Distribution (City Corporation Governs school)
- Others /Integration
- Capacity Building workshop with Market committee
- Social institution Small Group Meeting
- Safety Measures information Board set up (Landfill/Tourist)
- Advocacy Meeting with relevant stakeholders (Roundtable discussion with dailies)
Output-04: City Corporation taken various initiatives on Plastic Waste Management (Strengthening CCC )
- Quarterly Project Progress Sharing Workshop with CCC (CSO/Waste Pickers Award)
- Global Plastic Waste Management Exchange (summit and award)
- Strengthening capacity of CCC conservancy dept