Waste management—a mounting challenge for Bangladesh

The very existence of our science and technology-based modern civilization is virtually at stake in the face of mounting stockpiling of wastes and garbage across the globe. Millions of tons of both industrial and domestic wastes and effluents are produced across the globe by the routine operations of man and machines. Safe and secure disposal of these mounting heaps of refuses in an eco-friendly environment has been increasingly becoming the most daunting challenge for the human race in the new millennium. In this article, I suggest some ways and means out of this bewildering impasse from my own point of view. To begin with, let us define shortly what waste is and what it really means by waste management. Waste is what we throw away after use or getting utility from it. In this sense, an empty cigarette packet and an old used car are the two common examples of wastes from among the innumerable ones of exhaustive list of wastes. By waste management, we factually mean controlling and channeling all sorts of everyday wastes and garbage in a way that will not create any problem of any magnitude to both our health and our environment. It is a matter of serious concern that nowhere and in no way in the broader context of Bangladesh, the smooth management of wastes can hardly be done in an acceptably satisfactory way. To control and manage waste and with a view to exploring viable and proper guidelines for waste management in the right direction, we have to determine first the right approach towards waste management.

However, choosing the correct approach in addressing the paramount problem of waste again depends absolutely on our attitude towards waste. To me, it is our typical, stereotyped attitude that stands as a stumbling block in the smooth and safe disposal of the wastes. Our prevalent attitude is that we will dump our wastes at our own sweet will at anywhere and at a convenient time and there is an authority that will either clean it or not. I think the very genome of the problem of waste management lies in the heart of this attitude. No, in no way waste management can be solely an authoritative responsibility. In the truest sense of the term waste management is obviously a shared or participatory responsibility. It is clearly a process in which both the individuals as well as the appointed authority must play their assigned or defined part from their respective levels. Waste management at the personal level may be called primary management. On the other hand, managing wastes at the authority or institution level can be defined as secondary management. When these two tiers merge smoothly with each other, proper management then becomes easier.

Above everything else, management of waste has to begin with the initiative of the individual. An individual must develop a potential concern for the waste. To explain it clearly, an individual first has to decide where he/she will dispose of the wastes produced by himself/herself or the family where he/she lives in. If he/she acts simply responsibly, lack of dumping corner will no longer be an excuse for him/her. He/she must explore some ways and means and some way or the other find a solution. For this, he/she may face some hassles. But he/she has got to take these hassles. In the true sense of the term, all responsibilities are some sorts of hassles. Thus, the process of primary management of wastes is initiated. Of course, to develop the concern for the wastes, the consciousness level of the citizens will have to be raised to the limit.

In Bangladesh what we practically see at citizens’ level concerning waste management is really horrifying. The grass root reality evidently tells us that the citizens on the whole contribute not the least to waste management. On the contrary, they add to the wounds of the waste management. Anatomizing the mindset of the people we clearly spot the deep-going malaise of unburdening responsibility from the shoulder. What is more terrifying about the total process of waste management is that a huge bulk of educated and therefore conscious citizenry dump and dispose waste quite senselessly and irresponsibly. Possession of awareness has nothing to do here. It is a problem of the attitude which is to a large extent an untreatable malaise. In respect of waste management, it is quite naturally expected of the educated citizenry that they are to be self-motivated with a deep sense of responsibility. It is undeniably a civic responsibility and forms an integral part of patriotism. Unless and until the educated and the learned people are geared to their responsibility in waste management, the task of waste management will remain a daunting challenge.

Although I put the primary liability of waste management on the consumers or the mass people in general, still the appointed authority of waste management has to bear the brunt of the waste management practically. In most cases, the assigned authority of waste management is evidently seen not well-equipped and they are hardly self-motivated by the sense of duty and responsibility entrusted with them by their appointment. Among innumerable routine and chance commitments, the authorized management has to do some most prominent commitments on the topmost priority basis concerning waste management. In Bangladesh, the institutionalized authority carrying out the assigned job of safe disposal of waste happens to be the municipality, city corporation and in some cases voluntary NGO organizations. In most cases, we clearly notice a serious lapse and lack of co-ordination in their works.

Even worse, these disposal units are helplessly ill-equipped, understaffed and poorly-budgeted in removing and cleaning the wastes instantly in an well-organized and smooth way. Many glaring instances can be cited here where we see mounting heaps of rotten, putrid wastes and garbage lying by the busy roads of the cities and towns. In fact, it has already become a regular phenomenon with our urbanites. Now let us switch to the priority tasks to be done by the appointed authority.

First, hygienic dustbin or dump corner has to be built at important points as per requirement. But it is a gigantic task and requires a huge monetary allocation. Second, treatment of the raw wastes must be done by installing waste treatment plant so as not to create any health or environmental hazards.

At present, the appointed waste authority simply collect the scattered wastes and dump them at the earmarked dumping grounds. Third, from fast food shops to all shopping malls, arrangements have to be made to compel each and every outlet to mandatorily keep waste paper baskets. Fourth, new regulatory acts have to be enacted keeping provisions for monetary penalty for mindless dumping of wastes. Fifth, more and more facilities for recycling and refabricating of polythene, potentially most harmful entity to the environment, and bottles must be created. Above all, a mass awareness must be created about wastes and waste management through an organized and broad-based social campaign. Unless and until each and every individual come forward in this connection, waste management will simply remain a mere paperwork. But the lead must come from the government. Finally, we have to make waste management an all-out social movement for its total success.

The writer is Assistant Professor of English, Bogra Cantonment School & College. Email:[email protected]        

 

Waste management—a mounting challenge for Bangladesh

The very existence of our science and technology-based modern civilization is virtually at stake in the face of mounting stockpiling of wastes and garbage across the globe. Millions of tons of both industrial and domestic wastes and effluents are produced across the globe by the routine operations of man and machines. Safe and secure disposal of these mounting heaps of refuses in an eco-friendly environment has been increasingly becoming the most daunting challenge for the human race in the new millennium. In this article, I suggest some ways and means out of this bewildering impasse from my own point of view. To begin with, let us define shortly what waste is and what it really means by waste management. Waste is what we throw away after use or getting utility from it. In this sense, an empty cigarette packet and an old used car are the two common examples of wastes from among the innumerable ones of exhaustive list of wastes. By waste management, we factually mean controlling and channeling all sorts of everyday wastes and garbage in a way that will not create any problem of any magnitude to both our health and our environment. It is a matter of serious concern that nowhere and in no way in the broader context of Bangladesh, the smooth management of wastes can hardly be done in an acceptably satisfactory way. To control and manage waste and with a view to exploring viable and proper guidelines for waste management in the right direction, we have to determine first the right approach towards waste management. However, choosing the correct approach in addressing the paramount problem of waste again depends absolutely on our attitude towards waste. To me, it is our typical, stereotyped attitude that stands as a stumbling block in the smooth and safe disposal of the wastes. Our prevalent attitude is that we will dump our wastes at our own sweet will at anywhere and at a convenient time and there is an authority that will either clean it or not. I think the very genome of the problem of waste management lies in the heart of this attitude. No, in no way waste management can be solely an authoritative responsibility. In the truest sense of the term waste management is obviously a shared or participatory responsibility. It is clearly a process in which both the individuals as well as the appointed authority must play their assigned or defined part from their respective levels. Waste management at the personal level may be called primary management. On the other hand, managing wastes at the authority or institution level can be defined as secondary management. When these two tiers merge smoothly with each other, proper management then becomes easier. Above everything else, management of waste has to begin with the initiative of the individual. An individual must develop a potential concern for the waste. To explain it clearly, an individual first has to decide where he/she will dispose of the wastes produced by himself/herself or the family where he/she lives in. If he/she acts simply responsibly, lack of dumping corner will no longer be an excuse for him/her. He/she must explore some ways and means and some way or the other find a solution. For this, he/she may face some hassles. But he/she has got to take these hassles. In the true sense of the term, all responsibilities are some sorts of hassles. Thus, the process of primary management of wastes is initiated. Of course, to develop the concern for the wastes, the consciousness level of the citizens will have to be raised to the limit. In Bangladesh what we practically see at citizens level concerning waste management is really horrifying. The grass root reality evidently tells us that the citizens on the whole contribute not the least to waste management. On the contrary, they add to the wounds of the waste management. Anatomizing the mindset of the people we clearly spot the deep-going malaise of unburdening responsibility from the shoulder. What is more terrifying about the total process of waste management is that a huge bulk of educated and therefore conscious citizenry dump and dispose waste quite senselessly and irresponsibly. Possession of awareness has nothing to do here. It is a problem of the attitude which is to a large extent an untreatable malaise. In respect of waste management, it is quite naturally expected of the educated citizenry that they are to be self-motivated with a deep sense of responsibility. It is undeniably a civic responsibility and forms an integral part of patriotism. Unless and until the educated and the learned people are geared to their responsibility in waste management, the task of waste management will remain a daunting challenge. Although I put the primary liability of waste management on the consumers or the mass people in general, still the appointed authority of waste management has to bear the brunt of the waste management practically. In most cases, the assigned authority of waste management is evidently seen not well-equipped and they are hardly self-motivated by the sense of duty and responsibility entrusted with them by their appointment. Among innumerable routine and chance commitments, the authorized management has to do some most prominent commitments on the topmost priority basis concerning waste management. In Bangladesh, the institutionalized authority carrying out the assigned job of safe disposal of waste happens to be the municipality, city corporation and in some cases voluntary NGO organizations. In most cases, we clearly notice a serious lapse and lack of co-ordination in their works. Even worse, these disposal units are helplessly ill-equipped, understaffed and poorly-budgeted in removing and cleaning the wastes instantly in an well-organized and smooth way. Many glaring instances can be cited here where we see mounting heaps of rotten, putrid wastes and garbage lying by the busy roads of the cities and towns. In fact, it has already become a regular phenomenon with our urbanites. Now let us switch to the priority tasks to be done by the appointed authority. First, hygienic dustbin or dump corner has to be built at important points as per requirement. But it is a gigantic task and requires a huge monetary allocation. Second, treatment of the raw wastes must be done by installing waste treatment plant so as not to create any health or environmental hazards. At present, the appointed waste authority simply collect the scattered wastes and dump them at the earmarked dumping grounds. Third, from fast food shops to all shopping malls, arrangements have to be made to compel each and every outlet to mandatorily keep waste paper baskets. Fourth, new regulatory acts have to be enacted keeping provisions for monetary penalty for mindless dumping of wastes. Fifth, more and more facilities for recycling and refabricating of polythene, potentially most harmful entity to the environment, and bottles must be created. Above all, a mass awareness must be created about wastes and waste management through an organized and broad-based social campaign. Unless and until each and every individual come forward in this connection, waste management will simply remain a mere paperwork. But the lead must come from the government. Finally, we have to make waste management an all-out social movement for its total success. The writer is Assistant Professor of English, Bogra Cantonment School College. Email:[email protected]