PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT IN CHATTOGRAM CITY USING MATERIALS FLOW ANALYSIS

Abstract

Plastic waste management has become a critical issue in developing countries, largely due to increasing economic prosperity, population growth, and changing consumption patterns. This study employs Material Flow Analysis (MFA) to evaluate plastic waste generation, composition, and management practices in the Chattogram City Corporation (CCC), Bangladesh. Using STAN software, the MFA tool was applied to estimate unaccounted plastic waste flows from industrial, other institutional source (e.g., schools), which were quantified at 55.54 tons/day. Additionally, the study visualizes the complete material flow of plastic waste within CCC, addressing a critical gap left unexplored in prior research. Using the guidelines of the Waste Wise Cities Tool (WaCT), field surveys were conducted across 150 households, 15 markets, 15 hotels and restaurants, 15 offices, and 15 streets to quantify waste generation and composition. The study reveals that CCC generates 1630.91 tons of solid waste daily, of which 204.99 tons (12.57%) are plastic waste. Per capita plastic waste generation varies significantly across income groups, with high-income individuals producing 40.60 grams per day, which is 1.13 and 2.24 times higher than the middle- and low-income individuals, respectively. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) dominates plastic waste in households (46.30%), markets (47.42%), and streets (59.41%), while polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is prevalent in offices (75.84%) and hotels and restaurants (81.17%). Single-use plastic bags, packaging materials, and food wrappers are identified as major contributors to plastic waste. The study highlights that only 65% of solid waste is collected, with approximately 24.49% of plastic waste recycled through formal and informal channels. However, 543.23 tons of solid waste, including 154.79 tons of plastic, are mismanaged, leading to environmental pollution. This study could provide valuable insights for policymakers and city officials to design effective plastic waste management systems.