Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Mohammad Navid Shafiullah inaugurated the recycling facility at Mithachhari in Ramu upazila in the district today. Photo : BSS

COX’S BAZAR, Oct 9, 2025 (BSS) - The first-ever plastic recycling plant in Cox’s Bazar has officially begun operation with the aim of transforming single-use plastic waste into valuable resources. 

Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Mohammad Navid Shafiullah inaugurated the recycling facility at Mithachhari in Ramu upazila in the district today.

World Bank Environmental Specialist Bushra Nishat; United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Bangladesh Technical Advisor for Medical Waste Mason Salam, Administrator of Cox’s Bazar Municipality Nizam Uddin Ahmed, Department of Public Health Engineering Executive Engineer Ibne Mayaz Pramanik, Department of Environment Director (Additional Charge) Zomir Uddin, BRAC Climate Change Programme Director Dr. Md. Liaquat Ali and Associate Director and Office In-charge, BRAC Humanitarian Crisis Management Programme (HCMP) Rezaul Karim were present.

As one of the country’s top tourist destinations, Cox’s Bazar generates a massive volume of plastic waste every day. 

Studies show that about 34.5 tonnes of plastic waste are dumped indiscriminately each day in the town. Much of this consists of single-use plastics, polythene bags, packaging materials, polypropylene, and thin plastic films — all of which are difficult to recycle and have little or no market value.

The newly launched recycling plant will process such materials into eco-friendly, durable, and visually appealing products such as sofas, benches, and strong poles.

The recycling facility has been established under the Plastic Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia (PLEASE) project, implemented by the South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP) with support from the World Bank and UNOPS. 

BRAC is executing the project in Cox’s Bazar in partnership with the municipality. The project is part of a regional initiative to tackle the severe problem of plastic pollution across South Asia.