Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has opened a new chapter in waste management, transforming garbage from a nuisance into a valuable resource through the formal launch of its ‘waste segregation at source’ programme.
The initiative was inaugurated on Monday at 11 am at Gulshan Society Jame Mosque, where DNCC Administrator Md Shafiqul Islam Khan distributed separate bins and polybags to mark the occasion.
Speaking as chief guest, the administrator outlined a vision for a cleaner capital.
“We want to take waste management to a level where no garbage remains on the streets. Waste will stay in designated dustbins, and the city corporation will collect it directly from there,” he said.
He acknowledged that lack of awareness leads many to dump rubbish in open spaces or on roadsides. To change this behaviour, DNCC will install dustbins in phases at mosques, educational institutions, churches, temples, markets and other public gathering spots across the capital’s 10 zones.
In the initial phase, 500 bins are being distributed — 250 green and 250 yellow. The green bins are for kitchen waste and other biodegradable items, while yellow bins are for non-biodegradable materials such as plastic, glass and metal.
Besides Gulshan Society, bins were also handed over to De Mazenod Church and St Eugene’s School in Baridhara, MDC Model School in Pallabi, and the central temple behind Mirpur College.
Gulshan Society President Omar Sadat welcomed the move, saying, “Waste is no longer something to be discarded — it is now a resource. Many countries have turned waste into business opportunities, and we will follow that path in Gulshan.”
He said each of Gulshan’s approximately 12,000 households will receive one or two dustbins or separate coloured plastic packets, allowing residents to segregate waste inside their homes.
However, Sadat warned that those who fail to comply with the segregation rules will face fines.
Turning to upcoming challenges, Administrator Shafiqul Islam Khan said DNCC has taken extensive preparations for both Eid-ul-Azha and the dengue season.
“Removal of sacrificial animal waste is a major challenge for us. At the same time, we have taken necessary steps for mosquito control and dengue prevention,” he said.
To raise public awareness, campaigns featuring Baul music are being conducted at 100 important spots across DNCC’s 54 wards and will continue until Eid-ul-Azha. Waste-carrying vehicles have also been fitted with awareness messages.
DNCC’s Chief Waste Management Officer Commodore Humayun Kabir emphasised that the city corporation cannot succeed alone.
“The city corporation’s efforts alone are not enough. Individuals and institutions that generate waste must all act responsibly. If waste is segregated at the source, recycling and disposal become much easier,” he said.
Addressing city residents, the administrator urged constructive engagement: “Encourage us when we do good work, and criticise us when we make mistakes. But alongside criticism, please offer suggestions for solutions, so we can correct our errors and deliver even better services in the future.”
The event concluded with the formal handover of waste segregation bins and bags to Gulshan Society authorities.
