Mintoo Calls for Integrating Waste Management into Climate Action Plans

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo has called for integrating waste management and resource reuse into climate action strategies, stressing that they are vital to strengthening climate resilience, safeguarding public health and supporting sustainable economic growth.

He made the remarks during a high-level panel discussion titled “Can Growth Outrun Waste?”, organised by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in the Blue Zone of the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Antalya, Türkiye, on Friday. Details of his remarks were shared in a message received on Saturday.

Mintoo said the circular economy was not simply an environmental conservation issue for climate-vulnerable countries such as Bangladesh. Rather, it presented an opportunity to strengthen resilience, generate employment and promote sustainable economic development.

He emphasised that international financing, modern technologies and coordinated assistance from development partners were essential to transforming the country's waste management sector.

More than 100 billion tonnes of materials and resources are consumed globally each year, yet less than 10 per cent are recovered and reused, he noted. Such an imbalance between production and consumption is placing increasing pressure on the environment while resulting in the loss of valuable resources.

According to Mintoo, adopting a circular economy approach could help address these challenges while creating fresh opportunities for investment and employment.

Highlighting Bangladesh's exposure to climate risks, he said drainage networks and waste disposal facilities were often among the first infrastructure systems to suffer during floods, directly affecting public health, the environment and people's livelihoods.

Waste management, therefore, should not be considered a standalone issue but rather an essential component of climate adaptation and resilience-building, he stressed.

Mintoo said Bangladesh had already introduced a 3R (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) Strategy and Solid Waste Management Rules to promote waste reduction, reuse and recycling.

The government had also developed an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework for plastic waste, while a similar mechanism for used lead-acid batteries was being prepared, he added.

He further noted that the Department of Environment, in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), had established a common treatment facility for medical waste in Sirajganj.

The project demonstrated that waste could be managed in an environmentally sustainable and economically viable manner, prompting the government to consider expanding similar initiatives, he said.

Mintoo added that the government's election manifesto included a commitment to adopting a circular economy-based development model, under which investment would be encouraged in the management of solid, medical, textile and electronic waste.

The government was also planning to establish Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) across the country to sort and recover recyclable materials, alongside setting up an e-waste recycling facility in every administrative division.

The minister stressed that climate resilience must be a central consideration in the development of waste management infrastructure.

“Infrastructure capable of withstanding floods, cyclones and other climate-related disasters is essential. Waste management facilities that become submerged during the monsoon season cannot be considered sustainable or climate-resilient infrastructure,” he said.

On international cooperation to address plastic pollution, Mintoo said Bangladesh was implementing the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) under a memorandum of understanding with the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP).

Although the initiative initially focused on assessing plastic waste and developing an action plan, the government was now considering a broader and more coordinated strategy, he said.

A public-private steering group comprising representatives from the government, industries and development partners was also planned to coordinate activities, avoid duplication and identify implementation challenges at an early stage.

Referring to ongoing negotiations for an international treaty on plastic pollution, Mintoo said discussions were increasingly focusing on product design and chemicals of concern.

He stressed the need for Bangladesh to increase investment in resource efficiency, cleaner production and environmentally sustainable product design in preparation for future international decisions. The country's plastic industry policy was also moving in that direction, he added.

Calling for stronger international financial support, Mintoo proposed establishing a dedicated global investment platform for waste management, modelled on the Climate Investment Funds created to support clean energy projects.

He said such a platform should prioritise waste prevention, followed by resource recovery.

Bangladesh requires technical assistance, financing and effective international partnerships to develop sustainable waste management systems and advance the circular economy, Mintoo said, reaffirming the country's readiness to work with international organisations, development partners and the private sector.

The WEF-organised panel discussion focused on strengthening industrial competitiveness through the circular economy, improving resource efficiency, reducing waste, generating green employment and promoting public-private partnerships.

The discussion was moderated by Clemence Schmid, Director of Circular Economy Transformation and Global Plastic Action Partnership at the WEF.

Dr Heike Henn, State Secretary at Germany's Federal Ministry of the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, along with representatives from relevant sectors, also participated.