Environment and Social Development Organization- ESDO organized a Press Briefing on “Prevalence of Plastic Lamination Use in Posters and Leaflets” on 28th of January, 2020 at 12 pm in ESDO head office.

More than ten thousand ton of laminated plastic waste is generated from
different sources in Dhaka every year, which causes health hazards and environmental havoc. ESDO has conducted a Study on “Thermal lamination films: An Incising Health Hazards and Environmental Havoc of Dhaka City”, which focused exclusively on laminated posters, leaflets, stickers being used in the city. According to the study in 2019 about 7145.2 ton of laminated plastic waste was generated and in 2020 it’s expected to hit up to 10438 tonnes.

These plastics are not recyclable, so it may cause serious health and
environmental problem for the city dwellers. ESDO urged for immediate preventive actions in this regard for the sake of public health and environmental protection. Particularly they requested to the Bangla Academy authority and others exhibitors to stop and not to allow laminated poster, leaflets, and sticker in the upcoming Amar Ekushey Bookfair, trade shows and exhibitions scheduled throughout 2020

ESDO conducted the study on potential generation of laminated plastic waste in Dhaka from 6 most prominent sources including – DSCC and DNCC Election, Newspaper Supplements, Dhaka International Trade fair, Amar Ekushey Bookfair, scheduled large scale fairs, exhibitions and tradeshows and other advertising leaflets provided by restaurants, beauty parlors and commercial institutes. This year, an estimated 304 million plastic laminated posters have been printed and displayed by the DCC election candidates. Other than the posters, stickers, general cards and volunteer ID cards used for promotional purpose are also covered with plastic lamination sheets. Estimated 2472 ton of laminated plastic waste are generated within 12 days of the DSCC & DNCC elections campaign started.

Daily Newspapers is another means of plastic laminated material distribution in Dhaka city. ESDO Study finds that, most popular newspapers with significantly higher circulation come with at least one plastic laminated advertising leaflet on regular basis. Apparently, an estimated 227 tons of wastes is coming from the laminated leaflet materials provided with the popular daily newspapers. For the study purpose, top 5 Newspapers have been considered in this regard.