Accepted Manuscript

Title: Sustainable waste management policy in Bangladesh for

reduction of greenhouse gas

Authors: Shahriar Shams, J.N. Sahu, S.M. Shamimur

Rahman, Amimul Ahsan

PII: S2210-6707(17)30149-X
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1016/j.scs.2017.05.008
Reference: SCS 654

To appear in:

Received date: 17-2-2017

Revised date: 12-5-2017
Accepted date: 14-5-2017

Please cite this article as: Shams, Shahriar., Sahu, JN., Rahman, SM
Shamimur., & Ahsan, Amimul., Sustainable waste management policy in
Bangladesh for reduction of greenhouse gas.Sustainable Cities and Society
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2017.05.008

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 Sustainable waste management policy in Bangladesh for
reduction of greenhouse gas
Shahriar Shams1, J. N. Sahu2,*, S. M. Shamimur Rahman3, Amimul Ahsan4
1
Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Brunei, Jalan Tungku
Link, BE1410, Gadong, P.O. Box 2909, Brunei Darussalam
2
University of Stuttgart, Institute of Chemical Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, D-70550 Stuttgart,
Germany
3
South Dakota State University, USA
4
Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
Highlights
Almost 68 - 81% of urban waste in Bangladesh consists of organic matter.
Volatile solids comprises of 56% such as dead animal matters, plants and synthetic organic
compounds.
250.95 million CO2 equivalent of CH4 is generated from existing solid waste management
practice.
1.29 million CO2 equivalent greenhouse gas (GHG) is emitted annually due to composting.
Existing environmental policy and regulatory framework is not adequate to address waste
management.
A policy matrix for waste management has been proposed with a time frame and responsible
institution for implementation.

Abstract
The increased amount of waste generation resulting from urbanization, population growth

and improved life-style is a major concern for many developing countries like Bangladesh. A

major portion (68 to 81%) of the urban waste of Bangladesh is composed of food waste, which

produce CH4 as they decompose anaerobically. The trends of waste generation indicate a

growing rate of 0.1343 million tonnes per year. This study estimates that greenhouse gas

(GHG) of 1.29 million tonnes CO2 equivalent (CO2e) is emitted annually because of

composting. This study also estimates that CH4 generated from existing solid waste is 250.95

million tonnes CO2e and 2.89 million USD could be saved as part of energy production through

recovery of CH4 from landfill. The existing waste management policy neither includes any

waste to energy recovery targets, nor does it explain any recycling or reuse targets. Besides,

there are no provisions for incentives for waste minimization. Hence, this study proposes to

1
formulate a comprehensive waste management policy considering reduction of greenhouse

gas by reviewing existing laws on waste management system. A policy matrix for waste

management has been proposed to overcome the flaws of existing environmental policy and

regulatory framework.

Keywords: Methane; Greenhouse gas; Municipal solid waste; Policy; Waste management

*Corresponding Author: E-mail: jay_sahu@yahoo.co.in (Dr. J.N. Sahu); shams.shahriar@utb.edu.bn (Dr. S.

Shams)

1. Introduction

The increased amount of waste resulting from production and consumption processes is a

great challenge for many developing countries particularly in Asia. It is estimated that

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generation in Asia will be 1.8 million tonnes/day in 2025 from

existing waste generation rate of 1 million tonnes/day (Hoornweg and Bhada-Tata, 2012).

Generation and composition of waste depend on the characteristics of population (affluent

or poor), income (Akinci et al., 2012; Beigl et al., 2008), consumption pattern and living

standard (Ngoc and Schnitzer, 2009); Shekdar, 2009), level of education, social and public

attitudes (Nilanthi et al, 2007). Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions resulting from degradation

of waste is a major environmental concern (Hoornweg et al, 2011; Chen and Lin, 2008;

Liamsanguan and Gheewala, 2008; IPCC, 2007). According to Bogner et al. (2007), unmanaged

waste adds about 3.5% to the total global anthropogenic GHG emissions and from 2004 to

2005, equivalent to 49,000 million tonnes CO2e per year. The CH4 emissions from waste

management shared 4% of the global total GHG emissions in 2010 (UNEP, 2012). The average

GHG emissions per capita for cities ranges from less than half a tonnes (various South Asian

cities in Nepal, India and Bangladesh) to more than 15 tonnes CO2e (Sydney, Calgary, Stuttgart

and several major US cities) (Hoornweg et al., 2011). There is a consistent link with the

2
disposal of waste and generation of GHG which has been previously ignored during the

formulation of waste management policies. Wilson et al. (2007) identified the need for more

research-based knowledge to strengthen waste management policies. According to Ahsan et

al. (2014), waste generation rate in various cities of Bangladesh is ranging from 0.2 to 0.56

kg/cap/day, while the highest waste generation rate is 0.56 kg/cap/day in Dhaka city and the

lowest waste generation rate is 0.2 kg/cap/day in Barisal as shown in Table 1. The waste

generation in municipal areas of Bangladesh anticipated to an increment of 0.6 kg/cap/day

by 2025 (Bhuiyan, 2010). The waste generation rate has increased from 1.1 million tonnes in

1970 to 5.2 million tonnes in 2015 as shown in Fig. 1. The trends of waste generation per year

is growing at a rate of 0.1343 million tonnes per year (368 tonnes per day). About 78% of

solid waste is generated from housing sector and 20% from business sector, 1 % from the

institutional sector and the rest from other sectors (Ahsan et al., 2014).

Table 1: Total amount of urban waste in Bangladesh.

Figure 1: Trends waste generated annually.

Existing capacity for waste management in Bangladesh varies among city corporations and

municipalities, and government authorities need immediate attention (Ahsan et al., 2014). A

crucial role in improving conservancy services is taken up by community-based, private and

non-government organizations as the city governments have failed to deliver the vital services

(Ray, 2008). The only sanitary landfill located at Matuail, 20 km away from Dhaka is capable

of handling waste of 1700 tonnes/day (Yousuf and Rahman, 2009). The challenge posed by

large volume of unmanaged waste which fails to reach landfill site should be taken care of

with appropriate policies and regulations. Existing environmental policy and regulatory

framework in Bangladesh is not adequate to address waste management as there is no target

been set for reduction and recycling of waste in waste management strategy framework.
3
Besides, there is no provision or target set for energy recovery. This study calculates the

amount of GHG because of existing landfill and composting options practiced in Bangladesh.

Particularly, how much money can be saved as part of waste to energy recovery through

landfill gas utilization as resource. Therefore, a policy for waste management has been

proposed having reduction and recycling target for waste within a time frame through

identification of responsible institution for implementation.

2. Materials and methods

2.1 Characteristics and composition of waste

Several studies have been conducted on generation and composition of waste based on six city

corporation and various municipalities in Bangladesh as shown in Table 1 (Ahsan et al., 2014).

The waste collected from various cities in Bangladesh are rich in organic contents with 74%

food waste, 8% paper, 5% plastics, 2% textile and wood, 2% leather and rubber, 2% metal, 1%

glass and 6% other waste as shown in Table 2. Food waste ranges from 68 to 81% for the six

cities as shown in Figure 2, while paper and plastic are about 7 to 11% and 3 to 4%, respectively

as shown in Table 2. Glass, leather and rubber were the smallest composition for all locations.

It is also estimated that average solid waste generation at municipal level is about 19.33

tonnes/day. The parameters such as the pH, moisture and volatile solid contents ranged from

7.70 to 8.69, 56 to 70% and 43 to 71%, respectively as obtained through laboratory results. The

mean nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium obtained from samples of organic waste were 0.82%,

0.30% and 0.66%, respectively as shown in Table 3. The highest calorific value was 20,467

kJ/kg for rubber while the lowest was 5907 kJ/kg for food waste.

4
 Average total solid waste generation in Bangladesh is 14,249 tonnes/day of which Dhaka city

corporation itself contributes more than 4,978 tonnes/day and many of its wastes are

collected from the roadsides in haphazards condition as shown in Fig. 3. It was observed that

during 1970 the solid waste management (SWM) system was haphazard with waste being

collected as mixed waste comprising both organic and inorganic waste and dumped and burnt

in open space as shown in Fig. 4. However, waste was segregated in 1980 and organic waste

was dumped in open space while inorganic waste was recycled through informal sectors. The

initiative taken by Waste Concern during 1990s resulted into significant amount of

composting through door to door collection of organic waste as part of community waste

management initiative. The SWM got a major boost when residual waste after composting

and recycling was disposed in a sanitary landfill in 2010 with facilities for landfill gas recovery.

However, the waste management strategy in Bangladesh never had any specific target to

fulfill in terms of recycling, recovery, composting and final disposal in the form of landfill due

to lack of appropriate waste management policy and regulations.

Figure 2: Location map of the major cities of Bangladesh with percentage of food waste in

SWM and CH4 emission in million tonnes CO2e/year.

Table 2: Composition of waste generation in urban areas of Bangladesh.

Figure 3: Waste collection from roadsides (Source: Photo taken by Shams, December,

2014).

5
Figure 4: MSW compositions along with the treatment options from year 1970 to 2010 in

Bangladesh.

Table 3: Physical and chemical characteristics of MSW in urban areas of Bangladesh.

2.2 Methodology

The methodology for waste policy was based on the reviews of existing waste management

regulations to identify if the policies adequately address the issues of climate change. The

study examines the roles and responsibilities of existing implementing authorities either

directly or indirectly involved with waste management within the Government of Bangladesh

(GoB) in terms of their institutional capacity and the scope of work. A number of relevant

acts, regulations such as Factory Act (1965), ECA (1977, 2002), Environmental Pollution

Control Ordinance (1977), Urban Management Policy Statement (1998), National Agricultural

Policy (1999), Dhaka Municipal Ordinance (1983), NEMAP (1995-2005), Renewable Energy

Policy (2008), National 3R Strategy (2010) were thoroughly investigated and found that none

of these acts, regulation or policy do not address any specific target of achieving waste

disposal, composting, energy recovery, Clean Development Projects (CDM) projects.

Particularly, these acts, regulation and policy failed to correlate impact of climate change with

the waste management.

In this study, emission of CH4 is calculated using equation (1) based on IPCC Guidelines for

National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (IPCC, 2006) and based on existing solid waste

collection of 50%.
6
 16
4 = . . . . ( ) . (1 ) Eq. (1)
12

= 0.4 + 0.17 + 0.15 + 0.3 Eq. (2)

where, MSW- amount of MSW disposed by landfill (t/a); MCF - CH4 correction factor

(Fraction), 0.6 for the present study; DOC - degradable organic carbon [fraction (tC/t MSW)]

is calculated using equation (2); A indicates the total amount of paper and textiles as fraction

of MSW; B indicates the total amount of putrescible non-organic as fraction of MSW; C

indicates the amount of food waste as fraction of MSW; D indicates the amount of wood or

straw as fraction of MSW; DOCF - fraction DOC dissimilated, IPCC Guidelines provide a default

value of 0.77; F - is fraction by volume of CH4 in landfill gas, the CH4 fraction F can vary

between 0.4 and 0.6 while for our present study, considered as 0.5; OX - oxidation factor,

IPCC suggests 0.1.

Based on existing practice of composting of 700 tonnes day (Waste Concern, 2008) i.e. 4.91%

of SWM is used for composting. We calculate the GHG emission CO2, N2O and CH4 resulting

from composting using the following equations (Popov et al., 2012):

CH4 = Cinput.Cdegraded.CCH4% . (16/12) Eq. (3)

where C CH4% is percent of C converting to CH4 (%)

In composting system, the percent of carbon converted to CO2 is considered as 55% in line

with in the range 5060% of input carbon as proposed by Boldrin et al. (2009). The percent of

total carbon degraded was assumed to be in the range 66-84% based on hemicelluloses and

fiber degradation rate during composting period (Gomes et al., 2009) and we considered

7
carbon degraded as 75% in equation (3) for CH4 emission. The percent of carbon converted

to CH4 is considered as 2% in consistent with the range 0.82.5% (Amlinger et al., 2008).

CO2 = Cinput. CCO2% . (44/12) Eq. (4)

where Cinput is total carbon content in raw waste (kg), C CO2% is percent of C converting to

CO2 (%)

we have considered total carbon content in raw waste as 0.46 kg/kg of raw waste and

percent of C converting to CO2 is 57% (Chandrappa and Das, 2012).

N2O = Ninput. NN2O% . (44/28) Eq. (5)

where Ninput is total nitrogen content in raw waste (kg), N N2O% is percent of N converting to

N2O (%)

we have considered total carbon content in raw waste as 4.36 x10-3 kg/kg of raw waste and

percent of N converting to CO2 is 2.6% (Chandrappa and Das, 2012).

2.3 Environmental policy and regulation

National policies towards augmenting the participation of industries in environmental

management are vital elements in achieving eco-efficiency in both government and private

sector (Park and Behera, 2015). There are different national policies and laws in Bangladesh

directed towards waste management. These laws include the Factory Act, 1965, the

Environmental Control Ordinance (ECA) 1977, the ECA 2002 and Dhaka Municipal Ordinance,

1983. The Factory Act, 1965 is associated with threat to workers health in mills and factories
8
only. The Environmental Pollution Control Ordinance (1977) highlighted on controlling of the

environment problems caused by discharge of liquid, gaseous, solid, radioactive or other

substances. The Dhaka Municipal Ordinance, 1983 authorizes Dhaka City Corporation (DCC)

(DCC ordinance, 1983) for removal, collection and disposal of refuse, set up of brick kilns, and

cleansing of streets etc. The ordinance has no specific clause or section regarding storage,

handling, collection, transportation and disposal of industrial, hazardous or clinical waste

either by DCC or through private enterprisers. The Environmental Policy, 1992 provides

restriction on transportation of waste during daytime through open truck and disposal of

municipal, industrial or agricultural wastes to any water bodies. Though, the Ministry of

Environment and Forest (MoEF) has prepared National Environmental Management Action

Plan (NEMAP) for a period of 10 years (1995 to 2005) in consultation with a large number of

stakeholders and communities, it does not have any specific targets for source reduction,

waste recovery. Urban Management Policy Statement, 1998, prepared by the Government of

Bangladesh (Government of Bangladesh, 1998) has directed the municipalities for

privatization of services with facilities for slum dwellers with particular focus on solid waste

disposal but did not specify exactly what waste management options need to be adopted.

National Agricultural Policy (1999) has given focus on the sustainable agriculture practice with

increased use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and reduction in chemical fertilizers,

diversification of food for self-sufficiency and food security. However, there is no indication

on what needs to be done with agro-based waste and its management.

Renewable Energy Policy (2008) had given emphasis on harnessing and dissemination of

renewable energy technologies at rural, peri-urban and urban areas, enabling and

encouraging both public and private sector investment in renewable energy projects,

9
upscaling of contribution of renewable energy to both electricity and heat energy (Renewable

energy policy of Bangladesh, 2008). Department of Environment has formulated the National

3R (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) (National 3R Strategy for Waste Management December,

2010) strategy for reduction of waste, reuse and recycling and minimising waste disposal in

open dumps, rivers. Flood plains and landfills by 2015 and promotes recycling of waste through

segregation of waste. It promotes polluters pay principle as well as cleaner production and

Environmental Management System (EMS). But it did not specify what amount of waste need

to be recycled by specific year, how much waste should be diverted for other waste

management options and eventually going to the landfill site based on specific target.

3. Results and discussions

3.1 Methane generation and utilization

The timescales for waste management and climate change are similar based on the fact that

landfill sites can remain active for decades after their closure. Climate-induced changes in

temperatures can alter biological process such as composting, anaerobic digestion while

warmer temperature can increase amount of dusts. Besides, increased amount of

precipitation can decrease slope stability at landfill site. The CO2 emission of 0.4

tonnes/capita/year (World Bank, 2015) in Bangladesh is far below the average 6

tonnes/capita/year for global average. However, many cities in Bangladesh have potential for

increased GHG emission as the waste rich in high organic content is disposed improperly due

to lack of sanitary landfill.

Table 4 presents the scenario of the CH4 emission potential of urban solid waste in different

parts of the country. Dhaka city has the highest potential of CH4 emission from landfill which

10
is 100.17 million tonnes CO2e/year due to its large volume of generated waste followed by

Chittagong 25.62 million tonnes CO2e/year. There is a great opportunity for energy recovery

as the MSW comprises Upper Heating Value (UHV) between 18 and 20 GJ/tonne and Lower

Heating Value (LHV) between 8 and 12 GJ/tonne, where the LHV refers to 42% of the fuel

value of bituminous coal (23.9 GJ/tonne) (Poulsen and Hansen, 2009) suitable for energy

recovery.

Table 4: CH4 emission potential and savings in electricity from landfill.

3.2 GHG reduction

GHG emissions can be reduced to 12.8% through composting of organic waste coming from

commercial area alone over landfill (Seng and Kaneko, 2012). The result of composting can

produce 1.29 million tonnes of CO2e/year as shown in Table 5. Sanitary landfills with gas

recovery systems could contribute to reducing environmental impacts such as global warming

potential, acidification potential, and eutrophication potential (Seng et al., 2013). There is a

good opportunity in Bangladesh to take advantage of the revenue that CDM projects provide

to upgrade their current waste management practices. Waste-related projects account for

about 10 to 15 % of the approved projects wordwide (UNFCCC, 2003). The MoEF has

recognized waste sector as one of the lucrative sectors for CDM finance. In Bangladesh, there

is only two registered CDM project in waste sector out of 180 registered projects in the world.

Programmatic CDM Project Using Municipal Organic Waste to Town (City

Corporations/Municipalities) in Bangladesh is currently run by MOEF with the assistance

from consultant Waste Concern (WOPCDM, 2017) present, a developing country like

Bangladesh has no obligations to reduce GHG emissions. But Bangladesh can contribute to
11
global emission reductions by hosting projects under the CDM and obtain credit which could

be used for different types of development projects particularly those projects that deals with

mitigation and adaptation of climate change impact. Therefore, the waste management

policy proposes to increase the number of CDM project from two to ten by diverting waste to

composting by 2030.

3.3 Policy

The study identify gaps in the relevant policy measures and propose appropriate actions to

be taken by the GoB in terms of adaptation and mitigation aspects of the ongoing climate

change with respect to the waste management as shown in Figure 5. Currently there is no

inventory for GHG emission, therefore the proposed waste management policy emphasizes

on development of GHG repository to be maintained by DoE, enabling it to compile, collate,

compare and evaluate data during planning, designing and implementation of project which

can emit GHG. It is important to have easy access to various literatures on climate change

based on the regional perspectives and therefore the waste management policy proposes

inventory on climate change data through development and establishment of institution. The

concerned implementing institutions or regulatory bodies are consulted during the

formulation of waste management policy. The policy is formulated with types of

interventions, time frame and implementing or responsible authorities as given in details in

Table 6. Besides, the proposed waste management policy focus on the development of

composting facilities integrated with landfill sites allowing 68-81 % of organic wastes to be

reduced. This target has been proposed keeping in mind that 74% consists of food waste as

shown in Table 2. This will reduce the use of chemical fertilizer in agriculture to 70% by 2030.

12
According to Menikpura et al. (2013), converting 30% of collected waste for resource

recovery, the Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) system has obtained 60% GHG

reduction based on the scenario where all waste would have been disposed through sanitary

landfilling. The promotion of 3Rs is given emphasis in the formulated policy with particular

focus on source separation and a target of 80% reduction in inorganic waste by 2030. This

target is based on the existing recycling practice of 70% at informal level (Waste Concern,

2008).

Table 5: CH4, CO2 and N2O emission potential from composting.

Figure 5: Schematic diagram for formulation policy matrix.

Table 6: Policy matrix for waste management.

It has been estimated that by recovering CH4 by energy conversion can save 43.16 million kWh

of electricity equivalent to 2.89 million USD annually as shown in Table 4. A study conducted

on waste to energy technologies, MSW incineration and Landfill Gas (LFG) recovery could save

US $128.87 million in 2050 (Islam, 2016). Therefore, the waste management policy proposes

at least 50% LFG is converted to energy at landfill site.

The waste management policy should be reviewed every five years to incorporate changes if

required. The lack of enforcement often leads to failure of waste management policy, and

hence obligation should be on producer of waste streams, most notably packaging farm using

plastics, waste resulting from packaging of food products and garments industries. The final

goal is to utilize fully the potential of waste as a resource leading towards circular economy.

This would encourage private sectors and waste industries, nongovernmental organizations

to liaison with the government departments to set up recycling and composting facilities using
13
carbon credits within the framework of waste management policies. The policy has been

formulated prioritizing financial incentives such as tax credits, subsidies, waste diversion and

waste recovery for energy which other countries with similar waste composition and

generation can adopt.

Conclusion

The growing number of population with scarcity of land is a major challenge for waste

management in many developing countries like Bangladesh. The present study indicates the

quantity of waste generated in Bangladesh is 5.2 million tonnes/year. It has the potentiality

to emit CH4 of 250.95 million tonnes CO2e/year. This study indicates that Dhaka itself

generates solid wastes of 1.82 million tonnes/year and emits CH4 of 100.17 million tonnes

CO2e/year. This study finds that utilizing CH4 for energy production Bangladesh could save

2.89 million USD annually. The existing waste management policies do not address waste to

energy recovery and reduction target for GHG emission incorporating issues of climate

change. There is a good opportunity for Bangladesh to take advantage of CDM projects to

earn carbon credits by diverting organic waste into composting while reducing GHG

contributing to the atmosphere. Therefore, waste management policy has been designed to

incorporate the aspects of climate change with relevant updated information and targets. The

policy focuses that the coordination among various ministries along with private sectors can

convert waste sector as one of the lucrative sectors for CDM finance. The policy can be can

further utilized to develop a model followed by other developing countries based on each

countries administrative structures and concerned departments.

14
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UNEP (2012) The emissions gap report 2012, United Nations Environment Programme

(UNEP).

18
UNFCCC Clean Development Mechanism Simplified Project Design Document for Small Scale

Project Activities (SSC-PDD) [Version 01: 21 January, 2003].

USEPA (2006) US Environmental Agency. Global anthropogenic non-CO2 greenhouse gas

emissions: 19902020. Washington, DC: USEPA, Editor.

Wilson DC, Smith NA, Blakey NC, Shaxson L (2007) Using research-based knowledge to

underpin waste and resources policy. Waste Management Research, 25(3):247256.

World Bank, http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EN.ATM.CO2E.PC. Accessed on 24

December 2015.

WOPCDM, 2017; Waste Concern, "Programmatic CDM Project Using Municipal Organic Waste

to Town (City Corporations/Municipalities) in Bangladesh". Available from,

http://www.wasteconcern.org/OnGoingProject/cdmproject.html. Accessed on 2 Janury

2017.

Waste Concern (2008) Prospects of Green Jobs in Waste Recycling, Workshop on green jobs

initiatives in Bangladesh Jointly Organized by Ministry of Labour and Employment

Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh International Labour Organization, Surma

Hall, Hotel Sonargaon, Dhaka Date: 30 July 2008.

Yousuf TB, Rahman MM (2009) Transforming an open dump into a sanitary landfill: a

development effort in waste management, Journal of Materials Cycles Waste Management,

11: 277280.

19
 List of Tables

Table 1: Total amount of urban waste in Bangladesh (Source: Adopted from Ahsan et al.,
2014; Menikpura et al., 2013).

Table 2: Composition of waste generation in urban areas of Bangladesh (Source: a

Menikpura et al., 2013), b AQUA, 2012; c Paul et al., 2014).

Table 3: Physical and Chemical characteristics of MSW in urban areas of Bangladesh (Source:
Modified after Seng et al., 2013).

Table 4: CH4 emission potential and savings in electricity from landfill.

Table 5: CH4, CO2, and N2O emission potential from composting.

Table 6: Policy for waste management.

List of Figures

Figure 1: Trends of waste generated annually in Bangladesh.

Figure 2: Location map of the major cities of Bangladesh with percentage of organic matter
in SWM and CH4 emission in million tonnes CO2 e/year.

Figure 3: Waste collection from roadsides in Bangladesh.

Figure 4: MSW compositions along with the treatment options from year 1970 to 2010 in
Bangladesh.

Figure 5: Schematic diagram for formulation of waste management policy.

20
Table 1: Total amount of urban waste in Bangladesh (Source: Adopted from Ahsan et al.,
2014; Menikpura et al., 2013).

City/town Waste No. of Population Total waste generation Average Waste generation
generation city in 2013 (Tonnes/day) waste (Tonnes/year)
rate Dry season Wet Season generation
(Kg per capita (46% increase (Tonnes/day)
per day) from Dry
season)
Dhaka 0.56 1 7,227,891 4,047.62 5,909.52 4,978.57 1,817,179
Chittagong 0.48 1 2,656,472 1,275.11 1,861.66 1,568.38 572,459
Khulna 0.27 1 673,093 181.74 265.33 223.53 81,590
Rajshahi 0.44 1 456,277 200.76 293.11 246.94 90,132
Barisal 0.25 1 345,972 86.49 126.28 106.39 38,831
Sylhet 0.3 1 509,107 152.73 222.99 187.86 68,569
Municipalities 0.25 308 19,363,662 4,840.92 7,067.74 5,954.33 2,173,329
Other Urban
0.15 208 5,754,294 863.14 1,260.19 1,061.67
Centres 387,509
Total 522 36,986,768 11,584.63 16,913.56 14,249.09 5,200,919

21
Table 2: Composition of waste generation in urban areas of Bangladesh (Source: a
Menikpura et al., 2013), b AQUA, 2012; c Paul et al., 2014).

City/town Dhakaa Chittagongb Khulnaa Rajshahic Barisala Sylheta Average

Food waste 68.3 70.5 78.9 70.0 81.1 73.5 74

(Wt. %)
Paper 10.7 4.63 9.5 9.0 7.2 8.6 8
(Wt. %)
Plastic 4.3 8.7 3.1 9.0 3.5 3.5
(Wt. %)
5

Textile and 2.2 2.4 1.3 6.0 1.9 2.1

Wood
2
(Wt. %)

Leather and 1.4 5.8 0.5 1.1 0.1 0.6 2

Rubber
(Wt. %)
Metal 2.0 2.65 1.1 3.0 1.2 1.1 2
(Wt. %)
Glass 0.7 1.0 0.5 1.1 0.5 0.7 1
(Wt. %)
Other 10.4 7.4 5.1 0.8 4.5 9.9 6
(Wt. %)

22
Table 3: Physical and Chemical characteristics of MSW in urban areas of Bangladesh (Source:
Modified after Seng et al., 2013).

City/town Dhaka Chittagong Khulna Rajshahi Barisal Sylhet Average

pH 8.69 8.23 7.76 7.72 7.70 7.71 7.96

H2O (% FM) 70 62 68 56 57 69 63.66
Volatile solid ( dead 71 54 56 48 43 65 56.16
animal matters, plants
and synthetic organic
compounds , % DM)
Ash Residue 29 46 44 52 57 35 43.83
C/N 10.17 17.22 16.08 12.15 12.44 11.96 13.33
Ntotal (% DM) 0.89 0.17 1.62 0.56 1.23 0.90 0.89
Ptotal (% DM) 0.31 0.23 0.41 0.31 0.40 0.32 0.33
Ktotal (% DM) 0.62 0.57 1.37 0.38 1.18 0.42 0.76
Note: FM - Fresh Matter, DM - Dry Matter, % P as P2O5 - %P x 2.29, % K as K2O - % K x120

23
Table 4: CH4 emission potential and savings in electricity from landfill.

City/town Average waste Potential CH4 Energy savings in Total savings in

generation rate emission million kWh terms of cost in *
(tonnes/year) (million tonnes (1 million tonnes million USD
CO2e/year) CO2e = 0.172 million ( **1 kWh = 5.36
kWh) BDT or 0.067 USD)
Dhaka 1817179 100.17 17.23 1.15
Chittagong 572459 25.62 4.41 0.30
Khulna 81590 4.41 0.76 0.05
Rajshahi 61453 3.15 0.54 0.04
Barisal 38831 0.21 0.04 0.00
Sylhet 68569 3.57 0.61 0.04
Municipalities 2173329 97.02 16.69 1.12

24
 Other Urban 387509 16.8
Centres 2.89 0.19
Total 5,200,919 250.95 43.16 2.89

Note: * 1 USD = 79.95 BDT ; ** 1 kWh = 5.36 BDT (Source: Mujeri et al., 2013)

Table 5: CH4, CO2, and N2O emission potential from composting.

City/town Waste Potential CH4 Potential Potential N2O

generation emission CO2emission emission
rate (tonnes (tonnes/year) (tonnes
(tonnes/year) CO2e/year) CO2e/year)
Dhaka 1817179 20611 85779 4814
Chittagong 572459 95847 27023 77579
Khulna 81590 13661 3851 11057
Rajshahi 61453 15091 4255 12215
Barisal 38831 6502 1833 5262
Sylhet 68569 11481 3237 9292
Municipalities 2173329 363883 102591 294527

25
 Other Urban Centres 387509 64881 18292 52515

Total 5,200,919 591955 228570 467261

Total GHG emission potential
from composting 1,287,786
(tonnes CO2e/year)

Note: *The conversion of CH4 and N2O to CO2 equivalent is based on the global warming potential of
each gas, e.g. CH4 is 21 times and N2O is 310 times higher than CO2.

26
Table 6: Policy for waste management.

Sl no Types of Actions Outcome of action Time Responsible institutions

intervention frame
1. National waste Formulation of Waste management system Medium MoLGRD, MoEF, MoL, MoA, MoF,
management policy national waste development term MoI, MoH, MoE, MOEP
management policy
with integration of
climate change issues
of Bangladesh
2. Legal and regulatory Upgrade existing Implement existing waste Medium to MoL, MoI, MoH
framework Government management policy long term
regulations
3. GHG emission data Formation of Climate Compile, collate, Short term MoEF
storage Change Unit under comparison and evaluation but
Department of of data during planning, continuing
Environment (DoE) designing and
by involving implementation of project
concerned
ministries,
departments and
stakeholders.
4. Increase of lifetime Composting with 68-81 % of total generated Short-term MoLGRD, MoA, MoEF, MoI
of landfill areas integrated sanitary organic wastes can be
including GHG landfill plant reduced through
reduction as CDM composting including GHG
project emission reduction and
compost can be used as
fertilizer in agricultural
sector to reduce 60% of
chemical fertilizer by 2030

5. Waste to energy as GHG capture from 50% of LFG to be used for Short term MoLGRD, MoA, MoEF, MoI, MoST
CDM project waste disposal site energy generation by 2030
6. Awareness raising Develop materials Awareness raised Short to MoInf, MoE, MoLGRD, MoEF,
about GHG and engage both medium MoH,
print and electronic term
media for waste
management and
reduction of GHG
emission.
7. Promote 3R (Reduce, Recycling of 80% reduction in inorganic Short term MoLGRD, MoEF, MoI, MoH
Reuse and Recycle) inorganic waste, waste by 2030 but
activities) Tax incentives, continuing
subsidies for
recycling companies
8. Capacity building To prepare CDM 10 CDM projects to be Short term MoEF, MoEP, MoI, PMO, MoA
about CDM Projects project fit for registered and
registration and implemented by 2030
implementation
Note: MoLGRD: Ministry of Local Government and Engineering Department, MoEF: Ministry of Environment and Forest,
MoE: Ministry of Education, MoH: Ministry of Health, MoI: Ministry of Industry, MoA: Ministry of Agriculture, PMO: Prime
Ministers Office, MoST: Ministry of Science and Technology, MoL: Minstry of Law, MoEP: Ministry of Energy and Power,
MoF: Ministry of Finance, MoInf: Ministry of Information

27
Figure 1: Trends of waste generated annually in Bangladesh.

28
 120
100 million tonnes CO2e/year
80
60
40
20
0

70% 73.5%

68.3%

78.9 %
81.1% 70.5%

Figure 2: Location map of the major cities of Bangladesh with percentage of organic matter in
SWM and CH4 emission in million tonnes CO2 e/year.

29
Figure 3: Waste collection from roadsides in Bangladesh.

30
 1970 Open Dumping &
Organic &
Inorganic waste Burning

1980 Organic Open Dumping

waste

Non-organic Recycling
waste
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generation

Organic Composting
waste
1990
Inorganic Recycling
waste

Residual Open Dumping &

waste Burning

Organic Composting

waste
2000
Inorganic Recycling
waste

Residual Open Dumping &

waste Controlled Burning

Organic Composting
waste
2010
Inorganic Recycling
waste

Residual Sanitary Landfill

waste with gas recovery

Figure 4: MSW compositions along with the treatment options from year 1970 to 2010 in
Bangladesh.

31

Review of Climate
Change (CC) Related
Documents
Prepare an inventory of CC
related documents at both
national and international
level
Define review methodology
- Set scope of review
- Identify the linkages with
current study at national
level
Fact Finding on Institutional
Development
Prepare an inventory of
institutions directly involved
ge
Investigate the necessity of
establishing new
institutional body
Investigate the necessity of
amendment of the scope of
work of the existing
institutions within GoB
Investigate the status of
reflecting the CC issues in
preparation of
development projects
Figure 5: Schematic diagram for formulation of waste management policy.
Review of Existing Waste
Management Policies
Prepare policy inventory
Establish review team - Agree
work plan
- Assign responsibilities
Define review methodology - Set
scope of review
- Identify gaps within the policies
Investigation about
Monitoring
GHG Emission
(every five years)
Collection of information and redesign
about current status of
preparation of GHG inventory
Review of all the secondary
data, available information
and policies
Prepare an inventory of
government and donor
initiatives
Identifying the Relevant
Policy Measures
Propose policy actions to
bridge the gaps
Propose actions to be
taken by GoB on waste
management
Propose actions to be
taken by GoB to improve
the GHG emission data
32
33