Plastic Pollution, Political Economy, and Policy Failure: Investigating the Implementation Barriers of Section 6A in the Bangladesh Environmental Conservation Act, 1995

In 2002, Bangladesh became the first country to implement a ban on the use of polyethene bags. However, after 20 years, the ban has not been implemented. Hence, this study investigates the political and economic barriers to implementing the polyethene bag ban in Bangladesh. Moreover, this study employed a multi-faceted methodology to investigate plastic pollution and management strategies comprehensively. This study collected secondary data through a comprehensive review of several fundamental documents, including national policies and international frameworks. Moreover, face-to-face key informant interviews and an online survey captured diverse perspectives. This study found that the low pricing of polythene bags, the lack of alternatives to polythene bags, the high price of alternatives, and the lack of financial and infrastructural support for eco-friendly alternatives are the main economic barriers to polyethene bag bans. Notably, 91 participants (57.90%) think that the lack of cheaper alternatives, such as polyethene bags, is the main barrier to implementing the ban in Bangladesh. The results also indicated that cheaper prices (22%), easy availability (36%), and high prices of alternatives (27%) were the main reasons for participants preferring polyethene bags. The finding of this study is that a cheaper and more environmentally friendly alternative is needed in our country to implement the ban successfully. Additionally, the public and private sectors should come forward to invest in the alternative bag sector to make it cheaper for consumers. The government's initiatives, while commendable, necessitate stringent enforcement, amendments for specificity, and expansion beyond Dhaka to ensure holistic efficacy. The central government's role in influencing plastic waste management through taxation and incentives is pivotal, requiring the alignment of NGOs and civil society to foster public awareness and collaboration. This comprehensive examination serves as a foundation for informed policymaking and sustainable interventions to address Bangladesh's pressing challenges with plastic waste.