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To address the problem of the huge amount of environmentally harmful plastic waste produced and disposed each day in Bangladesh, WBB has:

Polythene & Plastic Samannay      Committee of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) organize a Citizen’s Gathering Program 17 March ‘06 in Shahbag  Demanding on Implementation of the law “Banning Polythene Shopping Bag” and Control of uses of onetime disposable Plastic Materials.

Press conference on polythene ban law implementation & use of one time disposable plastic reduce Organized by polythene & plastic protirodh somonnay committee, BAPA at conference lounge of national press club 11 am, 18 January 2006. supported by WBB Trust.

- Worked closely with other NGOs and government to obtain enforcement of the law banning polythene bags.

- Conducted research on plastics and polythene bags (see research).

- Conducted various activities to educate the public about alternatives to polythene bags:  jute, (reused) paper, and cloth.

- Carried out a program to supply a government housing project with trash bins and to educate them not to use plastic bags for trash disposal or for shopping.  The project has led to a 15% decrease in polythene bag use in the housing project.

The Government of Bangladesh banned the use of polythene bags in the capital city of Dhaka as of 1 January 2002, and in the entire country from the 1st of March 2002.  In order to support the ban and help ensure its success, WBB is working actively with other organizations to help Dhaka residents make the transition.  We are also conducting research to understand the level of acceptance of the ban in Dhaka and nationwide, and to design mass media messages to support the behavior changes needed to make the ban successful.

WBB congratulates the Government of Bangladesh on its excellent decision to ban the use of these dangerous bags, and looks forward to seeing Bangladesh become truly polythene bag-free.