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.
