Bangladesh advances plans for hazardous waste management

Government officials in Bangladesh have shown strong support for plans to construct the nation's inaugural Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility (TSDF) for hazardous waste. This undertaking, backed by an extensive feasibility study led by IMO’s SENSREC Project, aims to safely treat and dispose of hazardous industrial waste, particularly from ship recycling activities.

During a high-level inter-ministerial briefing in Dhaka on August 31st, Bangladesh's Environment Minister, Shaikh Faridul Islam, and Industries Minister, Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, both voiced their backing for the facility. They emphasized that a robust hazardous waste management system is crucial for the rapid industrial expansion of the country.

The proposed facility, set to be established in the Mirsarai Economic Zone, would serve as vital infrastructure for numerous industries operating in the region, extending its utility beyond ship recycling. John Alonso, Coordinator of the SENSREC Project addressing on behalf of IMO, added that without this TSDF, Bangladesh's ship recycling industry would struggle to comply with the obligations set forth by the Hong Kong Convention and the Basel Convention — the international agreements governing safe and environmentally sound ship recycling and hazardous waste management.

The feasibility study, conducted over nearly a year by an expert team led by Sumiyuki Otsuki, involved technical analysis, stakeholder consultations, and collaboration with various ministries and government entities. The study encompassed the facility's design, site selection, waste stream analysis, financing strategies, and the regulatory route for construction and operation. Government officials present at the briefing agreed that translating these findings into tangible action necessitates commitment and funding.