Dhaka Waste-to-Energy Plant Faces Community Backlash Over Health and Pollution Concerns
A $467 million waste-to-energy project near Dhaka, Bangladesh, is facing significant opposition from local residents and environmental advocates. The facility, overseen by the Dhaka North City Corporation and owned by the China Machinery Engineering Corporation, is designed to incinerate 3,000 metric tons of municipal waste daily to generate 42.5 megawatts of electricity. Critics, including the Bangladesh Working Group on Ecology and Development, argue that the plant poses severe health risks due to the potential release of toxic substances such as dioxins, furans, and heavy metals. While government officials maintain the project is essential for managing the city's waste crisis, recent regulatory changes lowering incineration temperature requirements have further fueled concerns among activists regarding increased fly ash emissions.
Key points
- The $467 million waste-to-energy plant is slated for completion in December 2028.
- The facility aims to incinerate 3,000 metric tons of waste daily to produce 42.5 megawatts of electricity.
- Local residents and the Bangladesh Working Group on Ecology and Development (BWGED) oppose the project, citing health risks from toxic air pollution.
- The Department of Environment amended the Air Pollution Control Rules 2022 to lower the minimum incineration temperature for the plant.
- Government officials argue the facility is necessary to address Dhaka's waste management crisis.
What happened
Construction of a waste-to-energy power plant near Dhaka, Bangladesh, has drawn strong opposition from nearby communities. The project, which is owned by the China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) and overseen by the Dhaka North City Corporation, is designed to incinerate 3,000 metric tons of municipal waste daily. The project is currently scheduled for completion in December 2028.
Context
Residents living near the proposed site, including those near schools and farms, have expressed concerns about the impact of the plant on their health and environment. According to an analysis by environmental groups, the plant is expected to generate 73,576 metric tons of solid waste annually, alongside 39.56 metric tons of toxic substances, including dioxins, furans, and heavy metals. Hasan Mehedi, secretary of the Bangladesh Working Group on Ecology and Development (BWGED), warned that chronic exposure to air pollution from the plant could lead to respiratory and lung-related problems, particularly for children and the elderly.
To facilitate operations, the Department of Environment amended the Air Pollution Control Rules 2022, lowering the minimum incineration temperature. While environmental activists argue this change will increase fly ash production and pollution, Shaikh Faridul Islam, state minister for environment, forest and climate change, stated that lower temperatures are sufficient as long as the facility avoids burning clinical or electronic waste.
What's next
Despite demands from residents and the BWGED to cancel the project, government officials maintain that the facility is necessary to address the city's waste management challenges. Mir Shahe Alam, state minister for local government, rural development and co-operatives, emphasized the need to utilize the city's waste pile through methods such as waste-to-energy production.
Why it matters
The project highlights the tension between urban waste management needs and the environmental and health concerns of local communities, particularly regarding the regulatory standards for waste incineration.
