A survey of recycling behaviour in households in Dhaka, Bangladesh

This paper examines the factors that influence the waste generation and willingness to minimise solid waste in Dhaka city, Bangladesh. Information on waste generation, willingness to minimise, socio-economic characteristics, and behaviour of the households towards solid waste management were obtained from interviews with 402 households in Dhaka city. Of these, 103 households regularly practised recycling activities. Ordinary least square (OLS) regression and logistic regression analysis were used to determine the dominant factors that might influence the waste generation and households’ willingness to minimise solid waste, respectively. The results found that the waste generation of the households in Dhaka city was significantly affected by environmental consciousness, income groups, particularly the middle-income earners, and willingness to separate. The significant factors for willingness to minimise solid waste were environmental consciousness, income groups particularly the middle-income earners, young adults mainly those aged between 25 to 35 years and storage facility. Establishment of a solid waste management programme could be an effective strategy for implementing sustainable waste management in Bangladesh. For this strategy to succeed, however, active partnership between the respondents and waste management service department is required. The respondents’ behaviour toward solid waste management practices should be taken into consideration, as should the results of this study, which are important indicators of respondents’ positive attitudes toward sustainable waste management in Dhaka city.

Healthcare waste in Bangladesh: Current status, the impact of Covid-19 and sustainable management with life cycle and circular economy framework

The objective of this study is to conduct an economic study to identify the factors which affect households’ solid waste generation, households’ willingness to pay to improve the solid waste management and households’ recycling behaviour in Dhaka City. The results showed that the waste generation of the households in Dhaka City was significantly affected by household size, income and concern about the environment. The results showed that the aggregate value of WTP of the respondents in Dhaka City was 7.6 million Taka (USD 0.1 million). Another logistic regression model was used to identify the factors which affect households’ recycling behaviour. The results showed that environmental consciousness, the availability of storage space, and age (25 to 35), are significant positive predictors of recycling behaviour. Another variable INCOME 2 (TK3,000 to TK15,000) is also positively correlated with recycling.

In Bangladesh, the main factors contributing to the increase in municipal solid waste (MSW) are population growth and rapid urbanization. The lack of effective waste management negatively affects the environment, human health, and the overall quality of urban life. This study focuses on the current state of municipal waste management organizations in Bangladesh and assesses their viability and sustainability. The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the 3Rs–reduce, reuse, and recycle–as methods for waste management at the municipal level. The value of this research lies in its potential to inform both the waste management sector and policymakers about feasible approaches to achieve sustain-able municipal waste management. By promoting the implementation of the 3Rs in educational initiatives regarding waste management and disposal, the study aims to encourage sustainable practices and reduce overall disposal costs. The study employs a literature review, case studies from various towns in Ban-gladesh, and a primary survey involving local government officials, waste management experts, and the general public. Data analysis methods include frequency analysis, content analysis, and quantitative analy-sis. Key findings reveal that, despite growing waste management challenges, a majority of users in urban centers adhere to the principles of the 3Rs. However, there are significant implementation issues, such as inadequate infrastructure, insufficient health promotion, and poorly designed programs. To enhance the ef-fectiveness of the 3Rs in municipal waste management, the study suggests developing efficient recycling mechanisms, strengthening regulatory requirements, and fostering public support and involvement. The research underscores the importance of an integrated approach to waste management in Bangladesh.

This study investigates landfill leachate contamination at six major landfill sites in Bangladesh such as Dhaka City Corporation (DCC), Chattogram City Corporation (CCC), Khulna City Corporation (KCC), Sylhet City Corporation (SCC), Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC), and Barishal City Corporation (BCC) by analyzing existing published data. The focus is on evaluating the impact of leachate on local water bodies and edible plants. A systematic search of databases including ScienceDirect, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar from 2000 to 2023 was conducted using terms such as landfill leachate, contamination, heavy metals, and health risk assessment. The search adhered to PRISMA guidelines to ensure comprehensive literature coverage. Data collected involved leachate composition, waste production rates, and management practices through standardized sampling protocols, municipal statistics, and field surveys. Analytical methods included physical sorting and weighing of waste, as well as chemical analyses for Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), and heavy metal concentrations using atomic absorption spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The study also evaluated waste treatment technologies like membrane bioreactors, pyrolysis, gasification, and, incineration assessing their efficiency in pollutant removal, energy recovery, and by-product quality. This research highlights the significant contamination issues posed by landfill leachate, providing insights into its impact on environmental and human health, and underscores the need for improved waste management and treatment technologies in Bangladesh.

Solid waste management is a grave concern for Bangladesh as by 2025 waste generation per capita will be 0.75 kg/capita/day and total amount of waste will reach 21.07 million tons per year. This chapter attempts to uncover the facts regarding waste management along with the policies and regulations existing in Bangladesh by reviewing published secondary documents. The chapter also contains emerging issues of agricultural, industrial, hazardous, construction, and electronic generation and 3R practices in Bangladesh. Legal instruments for waste management in Bangladesh are also examined. It has been found that enforcing authorities lack the capacity to implement their strategies regarding 3R practices for waste management. Case studies about community-based approach, waste recycling sector, and medical waste management have been exemplified in this chapter. Finally, the authors apprised the issues and challenges of sustainable solid waste management practices and proposed the way forward for Bangladesh to have sustainable solid waste management.

This descriptive type of cross sectional study was conducted in some selected hospitals of Dhaka city among three groups of health care personnel, viz waste generator, waste handlers and supervisory persons with a sample size 725 using structured questionnaire separately for each group to explore the need assessment of hospital waste management in Bangladesh from January 2014 to May 2014. Most of the supervisory persons were male (70.8%) and 57.7% respondents had working experience more than 36 months. 84% of them informed that hospital did not supply color bag or bucket for waste segregation. According to 97.3% respondents, International Biohazards was not labeled before and after transportation of waste. 90.7% said that waste management procedure in the hospital is not environmentally friendly. 88% mentioned that there were no guidelines for safe disposal of waste and no waste management guideline hanged at the waste generation site. 70.7% of the supervisory persons did not know whether there is any legislation applicable for Hospital Waste Management. Out of 325 waste generators, 37% respondents were male. 46.5% of the respondents had working experience more than 72 months. 61.2% of the waste generators use bucket for disposal of waste while 44.9% use dustbin. Only 21.5% use plastic bags and wooden boxes. More than half of the respondents (52.9%) handled waste without gloves, 19.7% used gloves and only 7.4% used spades during handling waste. 78.5% waste generator mentioned that they never identified the site of generation of waste. Almost all the respondents (99.4%) had poor practice level. Almost half of the respondents (waste handlers 146, 44.9%) were belonging to the age group of 30-39 years & 4.6% were less than 20 years of age. 38.5% respondents had educational level up to class V,the rest were those who attendant class VI-X 18.5%, SSC pass 5.5% and illiterate were 37.5%. 87.4% (284) of waste handlers had poor knowledge regarding waste management, types, health hazards, method of collection, transportation, storage and prevention of health hazards. Relation between age and knowledge regarding waste management was statistically significant (p-value=0.01). Attitude towards hospital waste management between male and female was statistically significance (p value=0.002). Level of education also found to be statistically significant (p value=0.000). Relation between waste management knowledge and waste handling practice was also statistically significant (p =0.005). Waste handlers without supervision had poor performance of work (P value= 0.005). Lack of guidelines, hospital waste management policy, non availability of equipments at desired time and amount, recognition, wages, lack of training, poor and inappropriate supervision are responsible for low level of practice of waste management; hence improvement of training and supervision along with job facilities in are necessary to improve waste management situation J. Dhaka National Med. Coll. Hos. 2016; 22 (02): 13-16

Policy gaps, actor dynamics, and implementation challenges in sustainable medical waste management in Bangladesh.

The plastic-derived product, nowadays, becomes an indispensable commodity for different purposes. A huge amount of used plastic causes environmental hazards that turn in danger for marine life, reduces the fertility of soil, and contamination of ground water. Management of this enormous plastic waste is challenging in particular for developing countries like Bangladesh. Lack of facilities, infrastructure development, and insufficient budget for waste management are some of the prime causes of improper plastic management in Bangladesh. In this study, the route of plastic waste production and current plastic waste management system in Bangladesh have been reviewed extensively. It emerges that no technical and improved methods are adapted in the plastic management system. A set of the sustainable plastic management system has been proposed along with the challenges that would emerge during the implementation these strategies. Successful execution of the proposed systems would enhance the quality of plastic waste management in Bangladesh and offers enormous energy from waste.

This article investigates the role of development sectors like non-government agencies in waste management in Bangladesh, particularly in semi-urban area. Through qualitative methods, key informant interviews and focus group discussions, the study reveals that NGOs are working to establish efficient waste management protocols in the most polluted and contaminated area. They have funded various activities, including awareness campaigns, agricultural practices, bin installation, information distribution, green club development, treatment plans, and transportation and disposal support. It is crucial for local government officials and women to be well-informed about waste management. To strengthen waste management activities, measures such as permanent disposal facilities, fixed garbage collection schedules, recycling markets, whistle systems, and bin erecting are needed. The article emphasizes the importance of well-informed local government officials and women in waste management.

It is widely accepted that solid waste management is a global problem. This problem is even more pronounced in developing countries such as Nigeria where solid waste management is a major concern. In recent times, however, there has been a concerted effort towards engaging members of the public in solving the waste management crisis. This effort is centred on public participation in sustainable waste management practice across the country. Nevertheless, in Abuja there seems to be low public participation in sustainable wastes and environmental management practice. This paper therefore seeks to investigate the rate of participation in sustainable waste and environmental management activities in Abuja. In order to achieve the aim of the study, the paper relied on a sample of 57 participants to obtain some primary data. The paper employed a mixed method approach with the aid of a questionnaire. The questions were designed to gather data on demographics of the participants, their awareness and attitude to sustainable waste management, the barriers preventing public participation in a sustainable solid waste management and measures that can encourage public participation in sustainable waste management in Abuja. The study revealed that increase funding, provision of recycling collection points, enforcement of laws and policies, the development of effective policies and regulatory framework amongst others are some of the measures that can encourage public participation in sustainable waste management programs in Abuja.

Background: Evidence suggests that implementation of color-coded systems for waste segregation is an inexpensive and effective method for improving compliance and achieving sustainable waste management. This narrative review examines practices and experiences from other parts of the world to appreciate the challenges and leverage points in the context of waste management in Bangladesh. Methods: A narrative review was performed in the period of January 2006 to January 2025, using PubMed and Google Scholar. The review incorporated literature in the areas of segregation of biomedical and dental waste, color-coded waste management systems, and compliance and adherence to waste management in low and middleincome countries (LMICs). The policy documents issued by the WHO, CDC, and national environmental authorities were also analyzed. Thematic analysis was utilized to examine the global waste management frameworks, practices in various regions, and the implementation shortcomings in Bangladesh. Results:In high-income countries, compliance with color-coded segregation systems is nearly 90% owing to regulation, training, and digital monitoring for compliance. Whereas, LMICs and South Asia, compliance is only 60-80% because of poorly trained personnel and weak enforcement. The 2008 Medical Waste Management Rules in Bangladesh implemented color-coded segregation of waste (yellow, red, blue, and black bins), but compliance in dental practices still remains inconsistent.Staff training, standardized labeling, and monitoring, at the institutional level, have been shown to assist in compliance. Conclusion: Evidence-sustainably supports the use of color-coded segregation for the effective management of dental waste. In the case of Bangladesh, implementation necessitates compulsory training and monitoring, incorporation into dental curricula, and enforcement of regulations. The use of the segregations as proposed by the WHO will enable safe dental practices while shielding health workers, the population, and the environment, thus enjoyed safe and sustainable systems. Journal of Dentistry and Allied Science, Vol. 8 No 2: 77-85

Background: Hospital wastes are a significant environmental and health hazard. With the increasing volume of healthcare wastes and heightened public awareness, sustainable management practices have become imperative. This study aimed to identify and prioritize key factors influencing sustainable healthcare waste management Methods: Adopting a quantitative approach, the study first identified ten critical factors through literature review. Subsequently, the fuzzy DEMATEL technique was employed to analyze and prioritize these factors. Fifteen experts from health, management, and statistics domains were purposefully selected to provide insights for this analysis. Results: The analysis categorized the factors into two groups: influential and influenced. Influential factors include fostering a green healthcare organizational culture that encourages waste recycling, promoting best practices for sustainable waste management, enhancing training programs, improving environmental awareness among healthcare workers, strategic planning for waste management, and cultivating positive attitudes toward sustainability. Influenced factors encompass establishing a supportive legal framework, developing necessary infrastructure, adopting environmentally friendly waste management technologies, and implementing environmentally conscious procurement practices. Conclusion: The findings underscore the importance of internal organizational culture and education in driving sustainable waste management. To mitigate health-related pollution risks, it is recommended that hospitals implement educational programs to foster positive attitudes and equip staff with appropriate waste management practices. Also, governmental bodies should enforce regulatory frameworks and conduct periodic audits to ensure compliance and effectiveness in healthcare waste management.

Sustainable Municipal Solid Waste management has remained a big challenge in Africa and other resource constrained settings. However, to achieve sustainability, the gaps in governance of waste management need to be addressed speedily as populations are expanding rapidly, far exceeding available infrastructure and resources. Ruiru subcounty has a rapidly expanding population which has not been matched with sustainable waste management in commercial and residential sectors. This study sought to establish the influence of governance on Sustainable Municipal Solid Waste management in Ruiru Sub-County. Mixed methods research approach and descriptive research design were used in both data collection and analysis. This involved administration of Questionnaires, interviews and observation checklist through an online platform Kobo Collect. Results of the study showed that the County Government and subsequent sub-counties are responsible for waste management. Despites this mandate there are heaps of waste remain in commercial and residential areas. This is attributed to various governance challenges such as lack of prioritization of waste management, limited financial and human resources, minimal community participation, disregard of informal players in waste management cycle, weak implementation and enforcement of waste management policies. While it is desirable to attain sustainable solid waste management in Ruiru, and while the national legal frameworks are in place, there are major challenges and gaps in solid waste governance. Therefore, this study concludes enforceability of mechanisms, adequacy of funding, wholistic involvement of all players remain daunting. Unless these are addressed, sustainable waste management will only remain an unattainable goal.

Introduction Waste management is a pressing challenge in Bangladesh due to rapid urbanization, industrial growth, and insufficient infrastructure. Existing systems struggle to manage increasing waste volumes, leading to environmental degradation and public health concerns. The need for sustainable solutions aligned with circular economy principles is critical for addressing these challenges. Objective This study aims to investigate current waste management practices in Bangladesh, identify systemic gaps, and propose sustainable and innovative solutions. The research seeks to answer how smart technologies and circular economy strategies can optimize resource recovery, reduce environmental impact, and contribute to economic growth. Methodology A mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining a scoping review based on the PRISMA framework and secondary data analysis. Over 500 sources were screened, and 45 peer-reviewed studies were selected for detailed review. Quantitative data from government reports, academic studies, and environmental assessments were analyzed. Additionally, a conceptual smart waste management framework was developed, incorporating technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Results Findings reveal significant inefficiencies in Bangladesh’s waste management systems, including dependency on informal practices and weak policy enforcement. Waste-to-energy (WtE) technologies, organic composting, and improved recycling infrastructure present high-impact opportunities for economic and environmental benefits. Smart technologies can optimize waste collection, sorting, and resource recovery processes. Conclusions The study concludes that integrating smart waste management technologies and circular economy strategies can address the systemic gaps in Bangladesh's waste management. Effective policy reforms, public-private partnerships, and community engagement are essential to ensure sustainable outcomes. Implication of the Study This research contributes a comprehensive framework for sustainable waste management in Bangladesh and similar developing countries. By leveraging advanced technologies and fostering collaborations, the study highlights how waste can be transformed into economic opportunities, reducing environmental risks and promoting long-term sustainability.