Waste-to-energy could help Bangladesh cut landfill pressure and recover value from waste, but weak segregation, infrastructure and municipal capacity remain major barriers to success.
Bangladesh’s fast-growing cities face an environmental challenge that can no longer be ignored. Urban centers generate approximately 33,574 Tonnes of waste a day, a figure likely to increase significantly with changing consumption patterns and growing cities. Per capita waste generation is expected to rise from 0.52 kg/day to 1.19 kg/day by 2041, putting pressure on existing waste collection, transport and disposal systems. At present, waste management is still largely based on collection and landfill disposal with little emphasis on segregation, recycling, treatment or resource recovery.
The increase in urbanization, population, and changes in consumption patterns have led to an unprecedented growth in the generation of municipal waste. Urban areas are producing thousands of Tonnes of waste every day, and a high proportion of this is collected and dumped with little treatment or recovery. If the trend continues, unmanaged waste will pose a major threat to public health, environmental sustainability, and the development of cities.
“There is a significant opportunity to address this issue as the government becomes increasingly interested in waste-to-energy (WtE) projects.” “Electricity waste can relieve pressure on landfills, reduce pollution, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and add value to materials currently seen as waste,” he said. WtE, in principle, supports a circular economy in which waste is converted into a resource rather than being dumped.
But Bangladesh needs to understand that waste-to-energy is not only an energy project. This is primarily a transformation project in waste management. The success of WtE depends on the ability of the country to develop a modern waste management system capable of providing a regular supply of well-treated waste as a dependable input to energy production.
Presently, there are some structural weaknesses in the waste management system of Bangladesh. One of the most serious challenges is the lack of segregation at source. Most households throw mixed waste, which includes organics, recyclables, and hazardous waste. This reduces the quality of the waste and makes recycling and energy recovery more difficult and expensive. Mixed waste adds to operating costs, lowers efficiency, and limits the economic potential of WtE facilities.
The infrastructure also has limitations, making things worse. Many municipalities still have old collection systems, inadequate transfer facilities, and traditional dumping. Even the most advanced WtE technologies will struggle to operate without modern collection networks, sorting facilities, and trained personnel.
Bangladesh’s ambition for this sector is exemplified by the planned Aminbazar Waste-to-Energy Project in Dhaka. The project could be an important milestone in urban waste management, as it would be able to process thousands of Tonnes of municipal waste every day and generate electricity. But its success will depend on several factors, including a steady supply of waste, appropriate technology, strong institutional coordination, and a financially viable operational model.
The economic reality of WtE also needs to be carefully studied. Power from waste may not always be the cheapest power compared to conventional energy options. But looking at WtE only from the point of view of electricity generation costs would miss its wider benefits. Getting rid of waste, improving the environment, depending less on landfills, and improving urban hygiene creates extra economic and social value.
Therefore, Bangladesh should first lay the foundation for an efficient waste management system before rapidly expanding WtE projects. The first step should be the introduction of practical waste segregation systems at the household and commercial levels. A simple three-stream approach of separating organic waste, recyclables, and hazardous waste could greatly improve waste quality and resource recovery.
At the same time, municipalities require additional technical and institutional capacity. Training of waste workers and local government officials on segregation, safe handling, transportation and processing methods is necessary. Public awareness campaigns through schools, media, and community organizations are equally important since the success of the whole system depends on behavior change at the household level.
A conducive financial and regulatory environment is also needed. WtE projects require other sources of income besides selling electricity, such as waste disposal fees, proper tariffs, and public-private investment models. International experiences show that successful WtE programs need strong policy support and not only technological solutions.
Bangladesh needs to take a phased approach: first improve waste management systems, then pilot projects, evaluate appropriate technologies, and finally scale up successful models. A technology that works in another country may not be appropriate for Bangladesh due to differences in waste composition, climate conditions, institutional capacity, and financial realities.
“The future of waste-to-energy in Bangladesh hinges on one basic principle: waste management must come before energy generation. If the country can develop good systems for collection, separation, recycling, and processing, waste can be turned from an environmental burden into a strategic national asset.
With proper planning, institutional reform, and long-term commitment, Bangladesh can transform its urban waste problem into an opportunity for cleaner cities, sustainable energy generation, and a more resilient circular economy.
The writer is a senior research fellow, Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research (C3ER), BRAC University & Doctoral Research Fellow of Climate Change, Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP)
