Recycling processes in Dhaka

Tens of thousands of people make a living —and survive— by working daily in recycling operations within small workshops and local industries.

Working conditions are harsh and grueling—often unsanitary—yet ultimately, this work represents a way of life and an indispensable source of income for thousands of families.

A powerful and extensive local industry applies almost complete recycling processes that affect the entire recycling chain: reuse, repair, collection, treatment and transformation into new goods for local use or goods for the export industry. Artisanal processes are used to recycle absolutely everything: plastics (there are around 5,400 plastic recyclers), metals, scrap, vehicles, machinery, electronic devices, etc.