By The World Ambassador TWA ______ COLOMBO, SRI LANKA —South Asian waste management companies, civil society groups and communities have collectively prevented 10.2 million kilograms of plastic waste from polluting the region's rivers and seas during the past five years. That is roughly equal to the weight of about 2,550 fully grown Asian elephants.

This has been achieved under the Plastic Free Rivers and Seas of South Asia (PLEASE) project, a multi-country and multi-faceted initiative implemented by the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP). The PLEASE project has also enabled the recycling of over 626,000 kilograms of plastic waste into useful resources in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, its six participating countries. SACEP and PLEASE project’s efforts to transition to circular plastics economy in the South Asian region resonate well with the World Environment Day 2025 being observed on June 5. This year’s theme is 'ending plastic pollution globally,' highlighting the urgent need to reduce and better manage plastic waste, which threatens human health and the natural environment. The PLEASE project’s results go well beyond intercepting plastic waste and recycling. PLEASE works with companies and civil society groups in reducing plastic use (especially single use plastics like bags, cups and straws) and better managing plastic waste in households, communities and industries. The project has catalysed 30 technological or social innovations addressing different stages of the plastic life cycle. Meanwhile, technical assistance has been provided to the ministries of environment in several countries for improving policy and regulatory aspects concerning plastics, or for better understanding the intricacies of plastic waste management. Recognising that women in South Asia are disproportionately involved in informal waste collection activities – such as scavenging through landfills or sorting recyclables – the PLEASE project has sought to improve their working conditions. The project has benefitted women waste workers through training, better access to childcare, health and social services, as well as creating safer work environments. SACEP began implementing the PLEASE Project in mid-2020 to strengthen innovation and coordination of circular economy solutions to plastic pollution flowing into South Asian Seas. As an inter-governmental organization, established by the governments of South Asia in 1982 to promote better environmental management, SACEP has a mandate to support its member countries in their journey towards sustainability. In partnership with civil society organizations, private companies, research institutions and local communities, the PLEASE project has found viable solutions that are tailored to local needs and conditions. Examples include: ● BANGLADESH: Floating trash barriers are deployed in waterways to effectively intercept plastic, preventing further pollution downstream and safeguarding marine ecosystems. For example, the trash barriers deployed by RedOrange Communications in Kallyanpur, Ramchandrapur Khal and Mohammadia Housing Road intercept 1,200 kg of plastics daily. ● BHUTAN: Transforming PET Bottles into Polyester Wool in Bhutan directly addresses the country’s growing plastic waste problem. This process converts discarded plastic bottles into a raw material for manufacturing products such as toys and jackets. This initiative by Clean Bhutan has already recycled over 10,000 plastic bottles. ● MALDIVES: Community Empowerment Linkage (CEL) has installed over 100 water purification machines across the Meemu Mulah island to curb plastic bottle waste and promote reusable glass bottles. The machines are also placed in fishing vessels, significantly reducing the use of plastic water bottles. ● NEPAL: A pioneering recycling facility for low-grade plastics has been established by Biocomp, transforming these materials into plastic composite boards. This facility processes 10,000 kilograms of plastic daily. ● PAKISTAN: The megacity of Karachi is now home to 60 ‘eco refill stations’ that offer a sustainable way to buy personal and household products – such as cooking oil and shampoo – through a refill option instead of new packaging. Davaam Life estimates to help consumers avoid over 7,000 kg of single use plastics. ● SRI LANKA: Smart recycling bins set up by Chakra Suthra offer incentives for responsible plastic disposal. People can deposit plastic bottles and receive immediate recycling credits that are redeemable for data purchases and bill payments via a mobile phone app. Through the project, SACEP has advanced policy development and regional cooperation on plastic waste management and circular economy solutions. It has organized multistakeholder policy dialogues, including six high-level national roundtable discussions during 2024 and a Regional Roundtable in Colombo in April 2025. These forums explored policy, technical, and market-oriented solutions, strengthening regional collaboration for scalable plastic waste solutions. The project also actively engaged South Asian youth through a Hackathon, generating many new ideas like biodegradable fish storage boxes, an enzyme-based plastic biodegradation solution, and a gaming app for reducing household waste.

Plastic Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia (PLEASE) is the region’s largest initiative to combat marine plastic pollution and promote sustainable plastic use. Funded by the World Bank and implemented by SACEP with implementation support from UNOPS, the project drives innovation through public-private partnerships, competitive grants, and circular economy solution.