150 youth volunteers mobilised for a large-scale waste clean-up drive along the Grand Trunk Road, covering an 8.3 km stretch from Fatehpur to Gaubindpur, Feni. Around 600kgs of plastic waste were collected during the initiative, which took place on Monday, 30 September, 2024 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This day-long initiative was organised by the Bangladesh Sustainability Alliance (BSA) in collaboration with PRAN-RFL and BRAC.

One of the major issues caused by the recent flash-floods is the vast amount of plastic waste left behind. As the floodwaters receded, debris from cities, riversides, fields, and water bodies surfaced, exacerbating the pollution problem. This challenge is especially severe in areas like Feni, one of the hardest-hit by the flash floods.

The 150 youth participants, all members of the BRAC Youth Platform (BYP), began the day by attending an interactive workshop aimed at raising awareness of the long-term environmental and health hazards of plastic waste. Through engaging role-plays and quizzes, the volunteers learned about sustainable waste management practices, the importance of reducing plastic consumption, and how young people can act as catalysts for environmental change by engaging the affected community.

Feni volunteer SZ Apu, who participated in the clean-up drive, shared, "The recent floods have made the people of Feni realise the severe impact plastic waste has on the environment and public health. Efforts to remove plastic waste through initiatives like this must be sustained over time. Together, our actions will be pivotal in safeguarding the environment of Feni and Bangladesh as a whole."

Equipped with safety gear, the youth volunteers cleaned areas heavily polluted by post-flood debris. The collected plastic waste was transported to PRAN-RFL's recycling facility in Habiganj, where it will be processed and repurposed into usable products. Apart from the clean-up drive, a medical camp was also organised as part of the day-long programme, where locals received health check-ups and medical advice.

Founded in November 2023, the Bangladesh Sustainability Alliance (BSA) is the first initiative of its kind in Bangladesh. It brings together leading organisations and conglomerates such as BRAC and Pran-RFL, among others, to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Agenda, particularly in the areas of biodiversity, livelihoods, and waste management.