Sylhet City Corporation and LafargeHolcim Bangladesh PLC have launched a joint initiative to make Sylhet Bangladesh’s first plastic pollution-free city by improving waste segregation, reducing plastic leakage and expanding waste processing capacity.
The roadmap was announced at a seminar titled “A Roadmap to Become a Plastic Pollution Free City” held in Sylhet on Monday during Geocycle Week 2026, attended by government officials, environmentalists, academics, media representatives and youth leaders.
The initiative seeks to address plastic entering landfills, rivers and public spaces due to inadequate segregation and disposal systems.
A key component of the plan is the Material Recovery Facility at Lalmatia Dumping Ground, jointly established by Sylhet City Corporation and LafargeHolcim Bangladesh in 2024 as Bangladesh’s first state-of-the-art municipal waste and plastic segregation plant.
The facility separates non-biodegradable waste, particularly plastic, before it reaches landfills or waterways. The recovered plastic is sent to Geocycle, LafargeHolcim Bangladesh’s waste management unit, for safe co-processing.
The partners are also planning a bio-drying project to reduce moisture in municipal solid waste, which is expected to improve waste treatment efficiency and make plastic segregation easier.
Sylhet City Corporation Administrator Abdul Quiyum Choudhury said transforming Sylhet into a clean and green city required cooperation among authorities, communities and regulatory bodies.
“Our vision is to build a plastic pollution-free city through strategic partnerships, modern infrastructure and continuous public awareness,” he said.
LafargeHolcim Bangladesh CEO Mohammad Iqbal Chowdhury said the company was using Geocycle to support sustainable waste management and reduce environmental impact.
“Partnering with Sylhet City Corporation allows us to deploy safe co-processing capabilities that divert plastic waste from landfills and rivers, contributing directly to a cleaner environment,” he said.
Sylhet City Corporation CEO Muhammad Razaie Rafin Sarkar said sustainable waste management solutions were needed as urban areas continued to grow.
“By collaborating with industry pioneers and adopting modern waste management practices, Sylhet City Corporation is taking decisive steps to eliminate plastic waste from streets and waterways,” he said.
The seminar featured presentations on Geocycle and municipal waste management by Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Mohammad Eklim Abdeen, Chief Waste Management Officer of Sylhet City Corporation, and Latifur Rahman, Head of Geocycle.
Department of Environment Sylhet Director Md Abul Kalam Azad, Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments Sylhet Deputy Inspector General Shipon Chowdhury and Women Entrepreneur Shama Haque Chowdhury attended the event.
LafargeHolcim Bangladesh said Geocycle’s co-processing solutions reduce dependence on landfills, support circular economy practices and provide an alternative approach to waste management.
The partnership aims to create a waste management model in Sylhet where plastic waste is collected, separated and processed instead of ending up in the environment.
