Book on plastic management launched

The Environment and Social development Organization (ESDO) has launched a book with a complete guideline on plastic waste management for school-goers in a bid to raise awareness among children on the issue.

The book titled “Plastic Mukta Agamir Pathchola (A journey to plastic free future) aims to encourage plastic use rejection, reduction, reuse and recycling, officials said at its launching ceremony at the Jute Diversification Promotion Center in Dhaka on Monday.

ESDO prepared the book in collaboration with the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education and the Mutual Trust Bank Limited.

The book contains in-depth discussions on how plastic comes from the mines and how it becomes a raw material for different plastic products, the types of health and environmental risks during the production of plastic goods, segregation and disposal of plastic waste and the possible alternatives of plastic products.

It also includes information on the harmful chemicals in the plastic products and their impacts.

Apart from the book, ESDO formulated posters, handouts, booklets, puzzles, and a manual for teachers.

“We believe the schools play an important role in developing the habits, thinking, as well as awareness of future leaders and citizens to fight against plastic pollution and shift to a circular economy” Syed Marghub Murshed, chairperson of ESDO said.

Shahriar Hossain, secretary General of ESDO said, “We are working to make plastic-free school campuses across the country. This book and other educational materials can be a springboard for building a plastic-free campus in Bangladesh and eventually a plastic-free green world.

“Students will gain knowledge about plastic pollution, plastic-alternative products and how to combat plastic pollution and conformity assessment to address specific plastic free campus needs,” he said.

Chowdhury Akhtar Asif, additional managing director of Mutual Trust Bank, said, “These educational materials are produced in a manner that is consistent with the current world and makes use of technology.

Saber Hossain Chowdhury, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on ministry of environment, forest and climate change, Siddika Sultana, executive director of ESDO, Abu Jafar Mahmud, head of ESDO technical Committee were present in the book launching programme.