The government of Bangladesh has undertaken an innovative project to ensure the availability of drinking water on St. Martin’s Island while phasing out plastic water bottles. As part of this initiative, waste-to-energy conversion through an integrated waste management system (plasma reactor) will also be implemented, marking a significant step towards sustainable environmental practices.

This comprehensive project includes eco-friendly waste collection through specially designed vehicles. Residents and visitors will be provided drinking water via a card-based system, akin to ATM cards, allowing them to access water at their convenience. The initiative aims to reduce pollution, safeguard biodiversity, and protect the island’s delicate ecosystem, according to officials. The project is being implemented with the support of the World Bank and the Bangladesh government.

Environmental experts have expressed optimism that the project will not only reduce environmental degradation but also help preserve the island’s marine biodiversity, including its coral reefs.

According to the Department of Public Health Engineering in Cox’s Bazar, the 1,700 households on the island, comprising around 8,000 residents, generate two tons of human waste and two tons of solid waste daily. During the peak tourist season, an additional 4,000 plastic bottles and a significant quantity of polythene and other plastic waste are produced daily by approximately 2,000 tourists. These waste materials have severely impacted the island’s environment, leading to the deterioration of marine life and biodiversity.

To address this issue, the government has launched the Integrated Waste Management and Safe Drinking Water Supply Project. The Department of Public Health Engineering is overseeing the implementation, and three contractors—Turn Builders, Green Dot Limited, and Water Birds Limited—have been awarded the project through a tender process.

Assistant Engineer Abul Manjur of the Department of Public Health Engineering stated that the project includes the purification of rainwater, groundwater, and surface water to supply safe drinking water to residents. This initiative aims to eliminate the use of plastic bottles on the island. The cost of water distribution will be recovered from users, who will pay a nominal fee using a card system. A dedicated laboratory will ensure the quality of the water.

Additionally, environmentally friendly operation buildings and two international-standard public toilets will be constructed without the use of traditional materials like bricks, cement, or steel rods. The project also includes an integrated waste management system that will process human, medical, solid, and plastic waste using a plasma reactor. This is the second such waste management project in Bangladesh. With this initiative, Bangladesh will become the third country to generate electricity from waste using this advanced technology. The project, already tested successfully at the Rohingya camps in Ukhiya, is expected to be completed by June.

Waste-to-energy conversion is a core component of the project. According to Assistant Engineer Abul Manjur, this system will play a critical role in maintaining the ecological balance of the island.

Architect Nahid Al Hasan, Managing Director of Turn Builders, stated that while some logistical challenges remain, efforts are underway to resolve them and commence work as soon as possible.

Environmental activists have lauded the government’s initiative. H.M. Nazrul Islam, Organizational Secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) in Cox’s Bazar, remarked that the project is a commendable effort to preserve the island’s environment at a time when environmental destruction is rampant.

St. Martin’s Island was declared an ecologically critical area in 1999 by the Department of Environment, and in January 2023, 1,743 square kilometers of the Bay of Bengal surrounding the island was designated as a protected area under the Wildlife Act.

In 2020, the government took steps to regulate tourism on the island. A study conducted by the Center for Geographic Information Services (CEGIS) recommended limiting daily visitors to 1,250 during the winter tourist season and prohibiting overnight stays. Currently, the interim government has implemented new regulations allowing tourists to visit St. Martin’s Island only during the day in November. From December to January, overnight stays are permitted, with a daily cap of 2,000 tourists. Beginning in February, tourist access to the island will be temporarily suspended to mitigate environmental impact.

Tourist vessels resumed operations on the Cox’s Bazar–St. Martin’s Island route on November 1. Officials believe the eco-friendly initiatives and controlled tourism will significantly contribute to preserving the island’s unique ecosystem and biodiversity.