Coca‑Cola® Foundation funds SR Asia to improve DSCC waste management

Bangladesh’s annual per capita plastic consumption in urban areas tripled to 9kg in 2020 from 3kg in 2005, according to World Bank

Tribune Desk

The Coca‑Cola Foundation has announced its funding support for a new project with Social Responsibility Asia (SR Asia) Bangladesh, with an aim to strengthen the waste management process in Dhaka South City Corporation, to celebrate the upcoming World Environment Day.

The Coca‑Cola Foundation has provided support for the SR Asia project titled “Integrated Management of Plastic Assortment and Contribution Towards Green Economy” (IMPACT-GE), said a press release issued on Wednesday.

The core objective is to develop an efficient waste management system along with reducing local air, water and land pollution. The partnership is also focused on improving the lives of individuals such as waste management workers through green jobs and inclusive economic growth.

IMPACT-GE will work to prevent waste crises and establish efficient resource utilization. The initial duration of IMPACT-GE is 12 months and during the first six months of pilot duration, it will collect and recycle over 1800 tons of PET and impact the lives of 1.37million people. Additionally, 300 waste collectors have already registered with SR Asia for IMPACT-GE with plans in place to increase the number of participants.

Sumaiya Rashid, country director of SR Asia, said: “Bangladesh has been struggling with waste management for decades in spite of having multiple excellent policies in place. To mitigate this issue we need the involvement of both public and private entities.” 

“The private sector can play an important role to complement the Government in Bangladesh in this area to manage waste, implement 3R through several international standards and guidelines, improve the waste workers’ livelihood and empower them economically through an inclusive business model so that the nation will benefit at large. We hope with The Coca‑Cola Foundation’s support, we will be able to bring forth the change we wanted to see for so long,” she added.

Saadia Madsbjerg, president of The Coca‑Cola Foundation, said: “The waste collection sector of Bangladesh is an informal sector with this program we seek to link the informal sector with the formal sector and support stability and safety of waste management workers. We believe this project will help reduce waste and benefit both communities and the environment.”

Previously, TCCF provided support to Brac for the campaign “Bandhan” to develop a model for the safe life and livelihood of waste workers in 13 low-income informal settlements of Dhaka. The project took many initiatives and as part of the “Bandhan” project’s key activities, eight wash blocks were launched for the waste workers in the capital.

According to the World Bank’s report “Towards a Multisectoral Action Plan for Sustainable Plastic Management in Bangladesh”, the country’s annual per capita plastic consumption in urban areas tripled to 9kg in 2020 from 3kg in 2005. 

The report further mentioned that a circular economy will help create new value chains, green skills, employment, and innovative products while addressing social and environmental challenges. Therefore to create this circular economy, the inclusion of the private sector is highly recommended.

The project, supported by The Coca‑Cola Foundation and implemented by SR Asia, is a step towards achieving that goal and can act as a trigger for more private sectors to replicate this initiative.