Life Below Water & Land Protection

Life Below Water & Land Protection

Life Below Water & Land Protection — Supporting UN SDG 14 and SDG 15

Bangladesh's rivers — the Buriganga, Turag, Shitalakhya, and their tributaries — are the lifeblood of the nation. Its agricultural land feeds millions. Both are under direct threat from the uncontrolled disposal of electronic waste.

UN SDG Alignment: SDG 14 — Life Below Water: Target 14.1 — Prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution from land-based activities. SDG 15 — Life on Land: Target 15.1 — Ensure conservation of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems.

Bangladesh-Specific Risks:
River Contamination: Informal collectors dump e-waste residues in rivers and waterways. Lead, mercury, and cadmium dissolve into water systems, bioaccumulate in fish, and enter human food chains.
Soil Contamination: Heavy metals from discarded e-waste leach into agricultural soil, reducing crop yields and contaminating produce.
Groundwater Poisoning: Lead and cadmium from landfilled e-waste penetrate soil layers and contaminate drinking and irrigation water.

EWaste Prime's Ecosystem Protection Commitments:
— Zero tolerance for uncontrolled disposal of any collected e-waste
— All material tracked through documented chain of custody
— Hazardous substance extraction by ISO 14001-certified processors only
— No e-waste deposited in waterways, open ground, or unregulated landfill
— Monitoring and reporting for SDG 14 and SDG 15 stakeholder reporting