Nearly 97 per cent of e-waste generated in Bangladesh is processed informally through environment-damaging methods, reflecting deep policy gaps, weak enforcement and systemic disorder in the country’s e-waste management system, according to a study by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).
The findings were presented on Tuesday at a press conference at the organisation’s Dhanmondi office, where TIB released its research report titled E-waste Management in Bangladesh: Challenges to Good Governance and Way Forward, the organisation said.
The study showed that only 3 per cent of e-waste is recycled formally, despite the rapid growth of toxic waste from electronic equipment.
The press conference was attended by TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman, Adviser-Executive Management Professor Sumaiya Khair and Research and Policy Division Director Muhammad Badiuzzaman, while Outreach and Communication Division Director Mohammad Tauhidul Islam moderated the event.
The research was presented by Environment and Climate Finance Coordinator Nabil Haque and Research Associate Abdullah Zahid Osmani.
“E-waste management in Bangladesh is suffering from legal and policy gaps and disorder in systemic application,” said TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman, adding that thousands of tonnes of toxic e-waste continue to enter the country despite import bans.
He said e-waste components are also being exported abroad in violation of the Basel Convention, pointing to failures and irresponsibility of monitoring agencies, including the Department of Environment.
The study identified irregularities such as illicit financial transactions in environmental clearances and registrations, exports by illegally registered or unregistered entities, and continued imports defying government bans.
Indecision over disposal of electronic voting machines procured by the Election Commission during the previous authoritarian government has added to the risk, while the absence of clear rules for ship-breaking, vehicles, electric vehicles, solar panels, batteries, toys and drones is intensifying environmental and health hazards, he said.
The research found that the Hazardous Waste (E-waste) Management Rules 2021 remain largely unenforced, with around 15,000 tonnes of e-waste worth $700,000 imported irregularly over the past three years, exceeding the 4,040 tonnes exported during the period.
It showed that 88 per cent of consumers are unaware of proper disposal methods and 72 per cent keep defunct equipment at home in unsafe conditions, increasing exposure to toxic metals such as arsenic, cadmium and lead, while women involved in informal dismantling and recycling face severe health risks.
The study also flagged solar panels as an emerging source of e-waste, estimating that about 5.5 million tonnes could be generated between 2025 and 2060, and noted the absence of any system to manage waste from batteries of the 16,724 electric vehicles imported in the past three fiscal years.
It highlighted weak coordination among authorities, noting that although 14 institutions are registered with the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, half are operating without registration from the Department of Environment.
To address the situation, TIB proposed a 12-point recommendation, calling for strict enforcement of the E-waste Management Rules 2021 and the Basel Convention, full digitalisation of environmental clearance and registration processes, a one-stop service linking the Department of Environment and the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, formalisation and training of informal scrap dealers, and immediate formulation of a long-term national e-waste roadmap focusing on solar panels and electric vehicles.
