Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p>The key issue of this paper is to find out the preference for re-use and re-use subject to re-cycling in the process of transition towards circular economy in Bangladesh. The study argues for re-use where possible, since it uses embedded labour, design, energy and water and retains market value, and that using a product, component or packaging is still useful, safe and acceptable to the user. Recycling is still a large part of it, but it's a second option for materials that are not really in a position to continue being used. The paper provides an evaluation in four dimensions – environmental value, economic feasibility, social equity, and public-health risk – and market readiness and governance capacity in the context of Bangladesh. It looks at municipal solid waste, plastic packaging, RMG textile waste, repairable electronics, glass, metals and organic waste and low value flexible packaging. The analysis suggests that Bangladesh should not go for ‘reuse-only' or ‘recycle-only' approach. The reuse-first hierarchy that uses source segregation, repair and refill facilities, the formalisation of informal workers, improved producer responsibility, textile-waste flows that are traceable, and quality controlled recycling systems are more realistic. The paper offers an implementation roadmap, a waste-stream decision matrix as well as an editable figures and a policy scorecard for scholars, municipalities, brands and policymakers.</p>