scussion: Climate Change Impacts and Plastic Waste Management Challenges in Chattogram City
Drawing on five years of professional experience in safety and sustainability, one of the most visible and pressing climate-related impacts in my local community Chattogram City is the growing problem of water pollution and persistent urban waterlogging. While these issues stem primarily from structural and governance challenges, climate change exacerbates them through more intense, unpredictable rainfall and rising environmental stress. The city’s weak waste management system, rapid unplanned urbanization, and chronic gaps in policy enforcement collectively amplify the impacts of climate-induced events.
1. Climate Change–Induced Impact Observed in My Community
In Chattogram, waterlogging has become one of the most disruptive consequences of the interaction between climate change and poor urban waste management. Even moderate rainfall can flood neighborhoods including Ward No. 2 (Jalalabad), the area examined in my thesis research. Several interconnected drivers contribute to this:
Plastic waste frequently blocks drainage systems
Canals and natural waterways are heavily polluted or encroached upon
Urban expansion has outpaced infrastructure development
Heavy rainfall events have intensified due to climate variability
During my professional work in sustainability, I repeatedly observed how intense rainfall events quickly overwhelm the city’s drainage network, where plastic waste accumulation prevents water from flowing. This creates immediate flooding, environmental contamination, and longer-term public health hazards.
2. Specific Challenges This Issue Creates for the Community
Field data from my thesis, Generation of Plastic Waste in Chattogram City: A Case Study of Ward No. 2 (Jalalabad), highlight several critical challenges that link climate impacts with waste mismanagement.
a. Dominance of Plastic Waste in Urban Flooding
The study revealed that:
95% of total plastic waste originates from the industrial sector, particularly garment factories
The most common types are LDPE (47%), HDPE (26%), and PET (39%)
Improper disposal and widespread open dumping frequently block drains, culverts, and canals
As a result, waterlogging occurs rapidly, even during light rainfall, disrupting residential life, business activities, and mobility.
b. Health and Hygiene Risks
The open dumping of plastics on roadsides, informal landfills, and canal banks leads to multiple health hazards:
Increased mosquito breeding sites
Foul odors and unhygienic living conditions
Higher risk of waterborne and vector-borne diseases
Direct exposure threats for children, waste workers, and low-income residents
These risks intensify when stagnant floodwater becomes mixed with household waste and industrial pollutants.
c. Environmental Degradation
Continuous discharge of plastics into canals and rivers contributes to:
Declining aquatic biodiversity and ecosystem imbalance
Contamination of water used for domestic activities
Long-term soil degradation and disruption of natural habitats
Such impacts complicate flood mitigation and reduce the resilience of local ecosystems.
d. Social and Economic Impacts
Ward No. 2 is densely populated and heavily industrialized. High waste generation, combined with limited awareness and weak regulatory enforcement, places significant strain on:
Local roads and public spaces
The drainage network
Waste collectors and municipal service providers
Climate-intensified rainfall events worsen this pressure, increasing cleanup costs and reducing productivity for businesses and households.
3. Community and Government Responses to These Challenges
Despite significant challenges, several interventions are underway to mitigate and adapt to the worsening effects of climate change and plastic pollution.
a. Government Initiatives (Chattogram City Corporation – CCC)
Regular drainage and canal cleaning drives
Reconstruction and widening of drainage channels
Attempts to enforce bans on polythene bags
Planned improvements in municipal solid waste systems (though progress is slow)
These interventions help but remain insufficient without consistent enforcement and long-term planning.
b. Community and NGO Efforts
Awareness programs focused on reducing single-use plastics
Local cleanup campaigns in high-pollution areas
Pilot recycling and waste-sorting initiatives
School-based environmental education programs
These grassroots efforts help foster positive behavioral change, although coverage is limited.
c. Individual-Level Adaptation
Growinrticipation in canal and roadside cleanup activities
These small-scale actions reflect increasing public awareness and a desire for cleaner environments.
Conclusion
The plastic waste crisis in Chattogram—exacerbated by climate change-driven rainfall extremes—is a complex environmental, social, and governance challenge. My professional experience and research findings reveal how unplanned urbanization, industrial expansion, low public awareness, weak policy enforcement, political bias, and corruption combine to intensify waterlogging and water pollution.
To enhance long-term resilience, Chattogram requires a coordinated, multi-level approach that includes:
Stronger regce and anti-corruption measures
Addressing this issue will not only mitigate the impacts of climate change but also enhance urban livability, public health, and environmental sustainability for the people of Chattogram in the years ahead.