Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Mian has called on entrepreneurs to harness growing interest in plastic waste collection to build a major recycling industry, ensuring safeguards for the environment and public health.
He made the call at the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the district administration and YPSA Waste Management Enterprise at the deputy commissioner’s conference room on Monday.
Under the agreement, YPSA will regularly collect, sort and recycle plastic deposited by students at Chattogram Zoo using environmentally sound methods.
More than 400 students have already visited the zoo for free under the initiative, Zahid said.
Launched in September to raise awareness of plastic pollution, the scheme allows students under 18 to enter the zoo by depositing 100 grammes of used plastic instead of paying the Tk 70 entry fee.
Zahid said the initiative had prompted people from different areas to contact him about collecting plastic waste and finding ways to recycle it. A shortage of recycling enterprises, however, remains a challenge.
“If everyone collects plastic waste, I believe this could become a major industry,” he said.
The agreement will initially remain in force for one year. No money will change hands between the district administration and YPSA under the arrangement.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and ICT) Pathan Md Saiduzzaman, also vice-president of the zoo’s executive committee, signed for the district administration. YPSA Director (Finance) Palash Kumar Chowdhury signed for the enterprise.
Zahid said the zoo initiative seeks to instil a sense of environmental responsibility in children. Although many students could afford a ticket, collecting plastic encourages them to think about its harmful effects on the environment and society.
The agreement may be small in scope, but its impact could be significant, he added.
Acknowledging the practical difficulties of eliminating plastic use entirely, he called for proper waste management, recycling and safe disposal, alongside greater use of jute and other natural materials.
He also urged private enterprises to expand similar initiatives beyond the zoo and encourage public participation in plastic waste management.
The DC outlined plans to plant around 150 coconut saplings to make the zoo greener. He said animal exchanges had enriched its collection, which includes white tigers and various other species.
Encouraging students to visit, Zahid said the zoo offered children an opportunity to learn about wildlife and biodiversity and spend time away from mobile phone screens. He sought the media’s help in taking the message to students and parents.
Additional deputy commissioners Md Sharif Uddin, Md Kamruzzaman and Sakhawat Jamil Saikat, along with officials of the district administration and YPSA, attended the event.
