Al-Monitor | Maysam Bizaer: With annual waste generation of more than�16 million tons�and over 60 million tons of construction waste, Iran is said to be among the top 10 consumers of plastic in the world with more than�10 million tons�of plastic being used in the country's packaging industry every year.


Waste collection costs the country some�370 trillion rials�(nearly $8.8 billion) alone, excluding the damage it inflicts on the environment and public health.

In December, mindful of these worrisome figures, the country's poor waste management system and a low�recycling rate�of about 8%, Kaveh Madani, then deputy head of the Iranian Department of Environment's Organization for Education and Research,�launched the "Bi-Zobaleh"�("No Waste")�challenge�on social media to invite and encourage ordinary Iranians to take action. (Madani recently resigned after reported hard-liner pressures).

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