In Rupganj, a town near Dhaka, a quiet revolution is taking place, changing the lives of people and the destiny of plastic waste. Every day, workers, many of whom were previously unseen waste pickers, gather at a recycling facility that is modest yet revolutionary. Instead of facing danger and exploitation, they are welcomed with protective gear, digital tools, mobile payments, and most importantly, respect.
This transformation is brought about by the Recycling Business Unit (RBU) model, a grassroots initiative empowered by technology that is reshaping how Bangladesh addresses plastic pollution. By prioritizing dignity, inclusivity, and innovation, this model highlights that circular economy solutions can have a deeply humane touch.
Bangladesh grapples with a daily production of over 3,000 tons of plastic waste, with more than 1,000 tons of it ending up in rivers and eventually reaching the Bay of Bengal. The country ranks among the top ten globally for mismanagement of plastic waste, posing significant environmental and public health threats.
At the core of the plastic recycling process are informal waste pickers, often women, who handle, sort, and trade plastic in unsafe and exploitative environments. These workers endure risky conditions, unstable incomes, and lack access to healthcare and legal support.
Currently, only about 37.2 percent of plastic waste in Dhaka gets recycled, with the rest being burned, dumped, or left to contaminate ecosystems. Unfortunately, the labor-intensive workers are often overlooked in national policies and donor initiatives.
To address these challenges, the Recycling Business Unit (RBU) model was introduced by Bangladesh Petrochemical Company Ltd (BPCL) in collaboration with the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP), the World Bank, and UNOPS through the Plastic Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia (PLEASE) project.
RBUs serve as decentralized plastic pre-processing centers strategically located in areas most impacted by plastic leakage, such as coastal towns, urban peripheries, and riverside regions. These units play a crucial role in collecting and sorting plastic waste, particularly PET bottles, offering dignified employment and training to local waste workers, and ensuring digital traceability and environmental adherence.
Seven RBUs are currently under construction in locations like Rupganj, Shiddhirganj, Chattogram, Cumilla, Feni, Bogura, and Cox’s Bazar under the PLEASE project. These facilities are equipped with safety measures, restrooms, childcare support, and on-site medical services, transforming the landscape of recycling work. Furthermore, the adoption of mobile payments in place of risky cash transactions promotes transparency and financial inclusivity.
Salma Begum, a waste worker in Cox’s Bazar, shared her experience, stating, “I used to work in unsafe places with no protection. Now I earn regularly, have access to healthcare and childcare, and I’ve joined a savings group. For the first time, I feel respected.”
Beyond being mere work sites, RBUs serve as platforms for empowerment. Female workers receive training in digital literacy and small business management, with many now overseeing sourcing networks or running small enterprises.
Since their inception in September 2023, RBUs have shown tangible outcomes. They have recovered over 350 tons of plastic, prevented 17.5 million PET bottles from entering water bodies, offered formal employment to more than 3,500 workers, with 40 percent being women, provided healthcare services to 1,170 waste workers (608 of them female) through 29 health camps, replaced cash-based intermediaries with secure digital payments, and implemented digital systems for waste tracking and regulatory compliance.
The success of the RBU model underscores that recycling is more than a technical solution—it is a social contract based on equity, trust, and community engagement. This model presents a practical and adaptable blueprint for countries in South Asia and beyond facing similar challenges.
Future enhancements for the PLEASE project include blockchain-based traceability, Ocean Bound Plastic (OBP) certification, and converting plastic into fibers for Bangladesh’s garment sector. As the project nears its conclusion, BPCL is gearing up to convert recycled PET into polyester yarn for the textile industry, aligning environmental goals with economic value creation and connecting informal workers to global supply chains.
Local governments are collaborating with RBUs to streamline waste collection from establishments like restaurants and hotels, replacing informal waste collection practices with transparent and traceable systems. This shift transforms plastic waste from mere trash to a valuable resource, driving livelihoods and fostering innovation.
The RBU model presents a viable solution for countries in the Global South tackling plastic pollution and informal labor issues. Its core principles—formalizing workers, promoting transparency through digital payments, and ensuring traceability—are adaptable across various contexts.
In a region facing climate vulnerabilities amid rapid urbanization, the RBU model demonstrates that solutions rooted in dignity and innovation can have a significant impact. While plastic pollution remains a visible threat to the environment, Bangladesh’s experience showcases that the solution lies not just in