Dhaka, a city of nearly 20 million people, is struggling under the weight of an escalating waste crisis. Every day the two city corporations generate approximately 6,500 metric tonnes of solid waste, which is projected to reach 6.6 million tonnes annually by 2050. Most of this waste ends up in landfills, streets, and natural habitats, creating severe health hazards and degrading the urban ecosystem. The uncollected waste clogs the drainage system, pollutes water bodies, and releases methane—a potent greenhouse gas. This mismanagement degrades the urban habitat and creates breeding grounds for diseases underscoring the urgent need for efficient waste removal and recycling processes. It is critical to address this issue to create a sustainable and livable environment for the city.
Waste-to-Energy (WtE) is a process that converts municipal solid waste through incineration. With this technique, garbage is burned at high temperatures to create steam, which drives turbines to generate electricity. WtE recovers valuable energy from waste and reduces reliance on landfills. Some key materials that are essential for WtE are high-calorific value waste, such as plastics, paper, textiles, dry organic matter, and non-recyclable waste. Furthermore, the process works better when wastes are adequately separated to prevent non-combustible or hazardous materials from interfering with energy creation. Advanced incineration plants are equipped with pollution control mechanisms to minimise harmful emissions.
Dhaka consumes 46 percent of the country's total electricity. While WtE may not revolutionise power generation, it offers a modest yet meaningful contribution to the city's power supply. More importantly, its primary benefit lies in tackling Dhaka's overwhelming waste problem. The under-construction Aminbazar WtE project, the first of its kind in Bangladesh, is designed to process thousands of tonnes of municipal solid waste from landfills daily. The facility will consist of four incineration lines, two sets of 35-megawatt turbo-generator systems, and a six-kilometre transmission line connecting to the Savar substation. What stands out is that the project aligns with European Union's pollutant emission standards. According to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, it will implement Best Available Technology to ensure environmentally responsible operations. Equipped with advanced filtration and scrubbing systems, the plant will effectively eliminate hazardous pollutants and make it a sustainable waste management solution.
To guarantee long-term viability, the initiative is backed by several key agreements: an Implementation Agreement with the Government of Bangladesh to establish regulatory frameworks, a Power Purchase Agreement with the Bangladesh Power Development Board to secure electricity sales, a Waste Supply Agreement with Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) to ensure a steady supply of municipal solid waste and a Land Use Agreement with DNCC for plant construction and operation. These agreements create a strong foundation for collaboration between government bodies and private sector stakeholders.
There won't be a shortage of waste in Dhaka for the WtE plant operations. People are already eager for cleaner roads and a healthier environment. If they are made aware that their waste is being transformed into energy for their own use, they will be motivated to separate trash, especially materials with higher calorific value. Moreover, unlike many other cities where waste remains exposed to the environment for long periods, Dhaka's waste is frequently collected during which much of the moisture is already separated, leaving behind drier, more energy-rich waste. This makes the waste arriving at the WtE plant more suitable for incineration, requiring less pre-treatment and increasing overall efficiency. By utilising this advantage, the city can enhance the effectiveness of its WtE initiatives which will make projects like the Aminbazar more viable and productive.
The Aminbazar WtE project must begin operations without further delays by addressing existing obstacles. Dhaka can learn valuable lessons from other cities in the world that have successfully implemented WtE initiatives. For example, Shanghai has integrated WtE into its circular economy strategy, improving efficiency and profitability by extracting recyclables before incineration. Singapore's Tuas Nexus Plant combines waste-to-energy with water treatment, maximising resource recovery and reducing emissions. New Delhi, despite initial setbacks, secured both government backing and private sector involvement to successfully operate the Ghazipur plant.
With strategic investments in waste segregation, clear policy frameworks, and public-private partnerships, Dhaka can avoid missing out on the potential of WtE.
Dr Sultan Ahmed is associate director at Bangladesh Institute of Governance and Management (BIGM). He can be reached at [email protected].
Fatema Tuz Zuhra is research associate BIGM. She can be reached at [email protected].
Views expressed in this article are the authors' own.
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