Rajbandh’s embankment under way

The first big step in containing Rajbandh, Khulna’s disposal site is done! Earlier, the SCIP team identified water erosion as the leading cause of plastic emissions, particularly into the adjacent ponds. The construction of an embankment was proposed as a critical intervention to reduce emissions, not only of plastic but also of stormwater and leachate runoff.

Construction work has begun to lay the groundwork for the proposed embankment. KCC is fully supporting the venture and has provided the necessary heavy machinery to excavate old waste piles and make room for the embankment foundations. The focus of the construction work is on the western, northern, and southwestern boundaries. In these areas, leachate accumulates and tends to spill over. The construction work will be carefully documented to illustrate the challenges and opportunities encountered during the transition process from open dump sites to controlled landfills.

Landfill siting is an enormous challenge! The location must be just right, with convenient access to populated areas and a low risk of environmental contamination. However, once the operation starts, it is all about containment. Little can be changed about the siting and site design at the Rajbandh disposal site. Containment truly matters most, and the current efforts in building an embankment are an invaluable step towards a sustainable operation of the site, as well as a long-term sustainable development of the region.