By Obidul Islam, Programme Manager, UNOPS
On 21 August 2025, I had the privilege of visiting BRAC’s newly established plastic recycling facility in Cox’s Bazar’s Ramu Upazilla. Built on land allocated by Cox’s Bazar Municipality, this landmark initiative is already transforming how Bangladesh approaches the challenge of single-use plastics.
Every day, Cox’s Bazar generates large volumes of plastic waste as per the baseline study conducted by BRAC in March 2024 approximately 34.5 Tons/Day Plastic waste improperly dumped in Cox’s Bazar beaches , of which single-use plastics (SUPs) wrappers, polypropylene (PP), and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) form a major share. Until recently, most of this waste ended up in open dumps or leaked into the Bay of Bengal, aggravating marine pollution.
The facility is the first of its kind in Cox’s Bazar, designed to recycle hard-to-recycle or low value plastics into lumber, sheets, and pellets, turning waste into raw materials for construction, furniture making and community use.
“Though it is more challenging and costly, we are working to recycle low-value plastic through our facility, and Bangladesh has very few examples of such initiatives. Moreover, our machine and product designs are tailored to address every type of low-value plastic, ensuring a comprehensive recycling mechanism.””
Mustak Ahammad, Manager- Collaboration and Partnership, PLEASE Project, BRAC Urban Development Programme (UDP)
With an installed capacity of 200 kg per hour, it is currently recycling five tons per month on a trial basis, with expectations for significant growth.
The facility houses state-of-the-art machinery; from shredders and hot-wash units to pelletisers and sheet presses capable of processing LDPE, PP, multilayer, and High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) plastics into lumber, sheets, and pellets. The unit is designed for both efficiency and product innovation.
The project is a testament to collaborative governance. Cox’s Bazar Municipality allocated the land, BRAC built and now operates the facility, and the Plastic Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia (PLEASE) Project implemented by SACEP with support from the World Bank and implementation support from UNOPS, provided critical oversight and financing.
The site also hosts a bio-compost plant and an under construction fecal sludge treatment plant, forming a comprehensive municipal waste management hub.
The facility was designed under a robust Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), ensuring safeguards from the outset. This includes effluent treatment, fire safety, worker protection, and regular monitoring of water quality, air emissions, and noise levels. Community consultations and feedback mechanisms remain central, keeping operations transparent and responsive. All practices are fully aligned with the Department of Environment’s guidelines, minimising ecological footprint while promoting sustainable resource use. These measures also enabled BRAC to secure a Yellow Category Factory classification from the Department of Environment, a recognition of responsible and sustainable operations.
Standing inside the recycling facility that day, I felt a shift in how plastic waste is perceived. Plastic, once seen as intractable waste, was being remade into something durable, useful, and hopeful. This isn’t just engineering; it’s environmental justice in action. Even the land and the neighbouring facilities are now a testament to the transformation it has seen, from an open dumping site for municipal waste intended for composting, to a structured, clean and purposeful facility, a clear reflection of the positive environmental impact of this pioneering initiative.
Guided by SACEP and the World Bank, UNOPS has been proud to provide implementation support to BRAC with technical guidance, project and financial oversight, ensuring that environmental compliance, social safeguards, and sustainability remain central to this initiative. The process of building strong market linkages is ongoing, but even at this stage it is clear that this partnership is shaping a model with the potential to be both impactful and scalable for Bangladesh.
This approach is deeply connected to creating inclusive opportunities.
“By empowering 10 female recyclers with business support and doubling their capacity, we have strengthened the plastic value chain at its foundation. Their enhanced role not only contributes to a steady and cleaner flow of plastics into recycling facilities but also demonstrates how inclusive livelihood opportunities can drive sustainable waste management and circular economy solutions.”
Mahfuj-Ur Rahman – Project Manager for the PLEASE Project at BRAC UDP
“Our mission focused on creating value from low value plastic (i.e single use plastics) and going beyond just recycling,” said Rukhsar Sultana, Manager, M&E and Reporting, PLEASE Project at BRAC. “Our approach is about closing the loop, protecting our oceans, empowering communities, and transforming discarded plastics into solutions, not pollution.”
Beyond recycling, BRAC is aligning the facility’s outputs with its wider climate programmes. Recycled lumber and sheets will be used to build climate-resilient structures in vulnerable coastal regions, showing how circular economy solutions can also strengthen climate adaptation.
To ensure sustainability, BRAC has committed one year of core funding to operationalise the unit until it becomes financially viable. The long-term plan is to hand over management to the municipality, embedding recycling into local governance structures.
This facility is not just about recycling—it’s about reimagining waste as a resource and aligning innovation with local governance, environmental safeguards, and community participation. The project, together with BRAC’s efforts, has shown that even in complex settings like Cox’s Bazar, where multiple stakeholders are involved, a thoughtful approach to plastic waste can unlock pathways for change and help build resilient communities.