Dhaka: Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Abdus Salam on Monday emphasized that a joint partnership between citizens and the city corporation is crucial to achieving a waste-free Dhaka. He delivered these remarks as the chief guest at the ‘Roundtable and Youth-Policy Dialogue on Accelerating Zero Waste in Dhaka,’ organized by the Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) in observance of the International Day of Zero Waste 2026 at Nagar Bhaban.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the DSCC administrator outlined a strategic roadmap for eliminating waste from the capital. He proposed a ’50-50 partnership model’ where citizens and the city corporation share equal responsibility for waste management. Abdus Salam stressed that citizen awareness and responsible practices can fulfill half of the waste management task, while the city corporation will handle the rest, making a completely waste-free city feasible.
Abdus Salam also announced DSCC’s initiative to establish a Dhaka Resource Circulation Park at the Matuail landfill, aligning with the prime minister’s ‘Clean City, Green City’ vision. This project aims to convert waste into resources and curb environmental damage from improper waste disposal. He underscored the importance of public awareness and the need for Bangladesh to adopt source-level waste segregation and recycling, akin to developed nations.
He urged social organizations like ESDO to conduct regular workshops to enhance public awareness and train waste collectors. The International Day of Zero Waste is observed globally on March 30 under the initiatives of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN-Habitat, with this year’s theme centered on reducing food waste.
The event saw participation from senior officials of DSCC and DNCC, students from various educational institutions, and policymakers, who engaged in discussions about the future of waste management in Dhaka.