Author: Isabell Lange

From October 1^st to 3^rd, the Awareness Centre team comprising Sheikh Enjamamul Haque, Ankon Singh, Fahima Akter, S. M. Nahin Rahaman, Md. Mobashar Hossain and Md. Shimul, along with ISOE researchers Dr.-Ing. Martin Zimmermann and Jonathan Pillen, facilitated two workshops. The main objective was to develop future visions for sustainable plastic waste management in Khulna.

Stakeholders from different fields of expertise came together to create visual maps of the most important aspects of plastic waste management in Khulna. In a first session, the current situation was discussed and mapped, with a particular focus on problematic aspects that might currently hinder more sustainable solutions, e.g. lack of awareness or lack of infrastructure. In a second session, these ‘problem maps’ were used as a starting point. Participants then identified necessary changes to the current system to achieve a sustainable and desirable future vision of plastic waste management in Khulna. Both workshops – the first in English, the second in Bangla – were successful not only in terms of the scientific data generated, but also in terms of the knowledge transfer and a shared understanding among the various participants. And last but not least: The use of constellation analysis combined with a world café format resulted in a mindful exchange and even some fun.

On August 21^st, 2023, the Awareness Centre (AWC) Team organized a Source Separation Workshop and Pre-campaign Program for the students of KUET School. The primary focus of this workshop was to educate students about the various ways they can participate in reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainable practices.

The session emphasized the importance of implementing environmentally-friendly practices to mitigate the negative impacts of plastic waste on the environment. By encouraging the adoption of sustainable practices, students can play a significant role in promoting a cleaner and healthier environment for both present and future generations.

Additionally, during the session, the AWC team discussed upcoming events, including a poster presentation, campus cleaning, and a rally. To foster creativity and engagement, the AWC team provided students with papers and colored pens, allowing them to create posters related to plastic pollution. The students enthusiastically participated in the workshop.

Recently, within the SCIP project, an awareness-raising initiative has resulted in the creation of two SCIP corners. The design rests upon repurposed plastic bottles, particularly those used for beverages. The construction utilizes a total of 1144 reused plastic bottles, including 630 white, 364 brown, and 150 green PET bottles. Its design aims to exemplify the capacity for integrating discarded materials into construction methodologies, simultaneously addressing environmental concerns, and encouraging thinking outside the box to be receptive to novel ideas regarding waste management. This structure is planned to serve as a platform for presenting the SCIP Plastics Project on various occasions, such as conferences, campaigns, and observance days. It functions as a hub for disseminating knowledge, communicating research outcomes, displaying innovative products and more.

In August, an awareness campaign entitled ‘Embracing Alternatives: Promoting Jute Usage as a Sustainable Substitute for Plastic.’ was held as part of the SCIP Plastics Project. This awareness program focused on ‘Preventing Plastic Pollution and Efficient Management’ and took place on August 14^th, at CUET School and College.

The event garnered an impressive lineup of attendees, with the Vice-Chancellor of the CUET, Professor Dr. Mohammad Rafiqul Alam, serving as the chief guest. The event’s organization was managed by Professor Dr. Farzana Rahman Zuthi, the Scientific Director of the SCIP Plastics Project, who played a pivotal role in bringing the event to realization.

It commenced with an opening speech by Prof. Sudip Kumar Pal, a scientific expert of the SCIP Plastics Project, who addressed the importance of raising awareness about plastic pollution among students and teachers. To promote sustainable behavior among students, they were provided with Jute bags as a biodegradable alternative to single-use plastic bags. Subsequently, other appreciated guests delivered insightful speeches, underscoring the necessity of proper plastic waste management. Professor Dr. Farzana Rahman Zuthi announced that such programs will be conducted regularly, marking just the beginning of their efforts. The program concluded with a lunch session, fostering engagement and dialogue on the urgent issue of plastic pollution.

In May 2023, after two visits of German SCIP members in Bangladesh, three delegates of our implementing partners in Khulna and Chattogram are visiting Germany. Prof. Dr. Muhammed Alamgir and Prof. Dr. Md. Rafizul Islam, both Khulna University of Engineering and Technology and Prof. Dr. Mst. Farzana Rahman Zuthi from Chittagong University of Engineering and Technoilogy start their residence time in Weimar at Bauhaus-Universität Weimar meeting the local SCIP team under the lead of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Eckhard Kraft.

Apart from joint excursions, several project meetings and sightseeing the international guests are giving insights of their work to German students in environmental engineering. The delegation will also visit the Institute for Social-Ecological Research in Frankfurt.

As a student at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, I had the great opportunity to accompany the project work on site in Bangladesh in March as part of my bachelor thesis. I was particularly captivated by the work carried out at the KUET campus, as it fostered a close and direct interaction with the students and project staff. In this context, we were able to facilitate a waste sorting workshop, previously tested in Germany, which served as a foundation for data collection by the individual working groups.

The process of waste sorting comprises several steps of screening and subsequent sorting. Despite initial difficulties, the best possible implementation of waste sorting was found on-site and key aspects were comprehended. The workshop fostered practical collaboration and laid a solid groundwork for the project’s future progression.

On the 2^nd March 2023, the official inauguration of the newly established Awareness Centre was held at Khulna City Corporation Building (Nagar Bhaban). The occasion was graced by Mr. Talukder Abdul Khaleque, Mayor of KCC in Khulna, as the Chief Guest. The program commenced at 11:30 am, with Mr. Khaleque officially inaugurating the AWC by cutting the ribbon. SCIP members from KUET, ISOE and BUW were present to witness this significant milestone in the project. The Awareness Centre is envisioned to serve as a potential exemplar for all other city corporations in Bangladesh, aiming to raise awareness among citizens regarding environmental issues by addressing plastic waste as a grave environmental threat.

As an official event, the WasteSafe played a pivotal role in bringing back the German SCIP members to Bangladesh. However, the project has witnessed significant advancements both before and after the WasteSafe event held on February 25^th and 26^th. In addition to the official proceedings, the project team conducted a series of collaborative activities and field visits. Team-building activities, such as workshops on a boat in the Sundarbans following the World Café approach, and various field visits to recycling shops, landfills, and jute factories, have contributed significantly to the further development of the project.