Theme for 2024

Together we can, reduce Plastic Pollution.

The escalating levels of plastic pollution represent a pressing global concern. Since 1950, the industrial utilization of plastics has surged significantly, resulting in an annual global production surpassing 40 million tons, with approximately 40 million tons ultimately disposed of in our oceans.

In Bangladesh, an estimated 80 percent of the population regularly employs polythene and plastic items in their daily lives. The nation hosts around 3000 factories dedicated to the production of plastic and polythene, generating a staggering 1 crore 40 lakh polythene bags daily. Bangladesh has regrettably ascended to a top position in global plastic pollution. Notably, the per capita plastic consumption in 2005 stood at 3 kg, an alarming surge to 9 kg by 2020, with Dhaka witnessing a doubling of plastic usage within the same timeframe.

Urban areas in Bangladesh grapple with rampant plastic pollution sourced from various items including thin plastic wraps, coffee cups, utensils, straws, bottles, and polythene bags.

A recent survey by the World Bank revealed that an estimated 73 thousand tons of plastic and polythene find their way into Bangladesh’s primary rivers - Padma, Meghna, and Yamuna - ranking the river basin second globally in polyethylene pollution. The pervasive spread of plastic-polythene waste extends beyond urban centers, infiltrating remote villages and towns. The rivers around Dhaka alone harbor 30,000 tons of plastic waste accumulated over numerous years, threatening the biodiversity of the Bay of Bengal where these rivers converge.

Notably, Bangladesh’s coastlines and islands face susceptibility to microplastic pollution. These minute plastic particles endure for centuries, inflicting profound adverse effects on the environment. Given our riverine landscape and inadequate waste management practices, plastic waste directly permeates our waterways, negatively impacting river and coastal ecosystems. Microplastics, ingested by fish, eventually enter the human food chain. Additionally, these particles pose risks to the Sundarbans environment, including endangered species like dolphins, through their presence in the food chain of aquatic life.

Scientists estimate a staggering 5.25 trillion micro and macro plastic particles currently reside in our oceans, with an alarming daily deposit of 8 million plastic pieces. These particles impair reproductive capacities and induce incurable diseases by affecting nervous systems in both humans and other organisms. Due to their slow integration or recycling, plastic waste exerts long-term adverse effects on the environment, necessitating collective efforts to mitigate plastic pollution.

The Bangladesh government is actively implementing the ‘Multisectoral Action Plan for Sustainable Plastic Management,’ aiming to curtail plastic pollution by reducing virgin material usage by 50 percent by 2030, eliminating 90 percent of single-use plastics by 2026, ensuring the recycling of 50 percent of plastic waste by 2025, and implementing a strategy to decrease plastic waste production by 30 percent by 2030.

Cosmic Culture, the organizer of the Barisal Marathon, firmly believes that collective action is imperative in mitigating global pollution. The marathon aims to foster awareness and reduce the usage of plastic products in daily life, aligning with the government’s initiatives. Barisal Marathon stands committed to cultivating social consciousness among participants, locals, tourists, and conducting events that highlight this pivotal mission.

Source: The Daily Prothom Alo, the Guardian, UNEP - UN Environment Programme