Dhaka, Broadcasting News Corporation: Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury said that the government is working to convert the country’s waste into resources. A program to produce fertilizer from waste is being taken up. From now on, USAID will collect waste from the slums of Dhaka to help the government.

The Environment Minister said this while talking to the media after a meeting with the delegation of USAID and Dhaka Calling at the secretariat thursday.

The Environment Minister said that by 2025, around 50,000 metric tons of waste will be produced in various sectors in the country every day. In the future, not only the city, but the waste of all areas will have to be managed. By collecting these, government and private fertilizer production will begin. The minister said, why should we import quality fertilizer from waste? Fertilizer import will decrease if production of fertilizer from waste starts. This will save us a lot of foreign exchange.

The Environment Minister said that within the 100 working days program of the Ministry of Environment, the formulation of the National Waste Management Framework is at the priority level. He said, we are looking at the entire ecosystem of waste management. How it can be developed and implemented is being considered. For now, solid waste will be managed. Human waste, tannery waste, e-waste, medical waste will also be managed gradually. Initiatives will also be taken to recycle single use plastic. Considering the future needs, planning for waste management will be undertaken by identifying the site and acquiring the land.

Expressing concern about the waste management of Savar tannery, the environment minister said that the chromium obtained from the waste, there is a serious risk to the human body. The Ministry of Environment wants to resolve the matter in discussion with the Ministry of Industry.

The Environment Minister later discussed the ban on plastic filters in cigarettes with a delegation from the NGO Knowledge for Progress (PROGGA) in his office.