Tell us about your inspiration behind establishing Garbageman.
As an architect, I found Dhaka’s waste management practices frustrating. It seemed like a design flaw in the city’s foundation. That’s why I started experimenting with household-level trash collection and sorting methods. Soon, I realised that the entire system, from collection to disposal, required a major overhaul. Everyone has a role to play, but there were significant gaps in the existing approach. That’s why I founded Garbageman in 2018. We encourage people to view waste as a valuable resource, as the world’s environment is facing challenges. The overarching goal of Garbageman is to modernise waste management and to make recycling transparent, engaging, and educational for future generations.
What do you believe are the challenges of waste management in a city like Dhaka?
It’s disheartening to see waste being improperly disposed of throughout the city. Although it does eventually get collected, the effort and quality of sorting make a big difference. For instance, if someone throws away sharp glass that ends up injuring a garbage collector, there is a physical and financial consequence. The main challenge lies in shifting mindsets, especially among consumers. Most people do not take waste segregation seriously, which hampers the efficiency and safety of the entire waste management process.
While there are policies in place at the systemic level, enforcement is lacking, making it crucial for everyone to play their part as a team. The rapid growth of the city and the resulting waste generation are surpassing ineffective solutions. To develop better strategies, we require research, data collection, and public participation. Currently, our urban planning fails to address the need for dedicated recycling facilities, composting units, and collection hubs within city limits. The nearing capacity of landfills emphasises the urgency for alternative solutions. Unfortunately, many policymakers lack an understanding of the seriousness of these issues. As a social impact enterprise, Garbageman requires government support, such as subsidies and tax rebates, to expand and create lasting change. Without this assistance, the financial burden of operating a sustainable waste management company becomes a significant obstacle.
The overarching goal of Garbageman is to modernise waste management and to make recycling transparent, engaging, and educational for future generations.
How does Garbageman educate residents about responsible waste disposal practices, and have you observed any changes in attitudes towards waste in the communities you serve?
We collect recyclable waste, such as paper, plastic, glass, and metal, from our partners, which include households, corporate offices, organisations, and restaurants. We provide them with ‘segregation manuals’ and recycling bins. We also offer monthly reports that detail the amount of waste they generated, the amount they recovered through our service, and the overall environmental impact of their choices. This enables them to actively participate in managing waste. Our ‘Bin-tastic’ event engages school students in embellishing recycled garbage containers that are part of Dhaka’s collection system. In addition, we regularly organise clean-up drives. These initiatives aim to raise awareness about environmental issues and the importance of proper waste disposal. They have the potential to inspire long-term changes in behaviour, encouraging people to reduce waste and recycle more. The growing eagerness of our partners to segregate their waste for collection is encouraging. We have also observed a significant increase in awareness, particularly among international companies operating in Bangladesh. The rise in competition for us indicates a growing market for responsible waste management, highlighting the impact and inspiration that Garbageman has achieved.
Garbageman has partnered with UNIDO for a project funded by the European Union, with Intellicap and H&M as stakeholders. Can you tell us more about it?
In an effort to establish a traceable, responsible, and ethical supply chain for plastic waste, Garbageman is targeting the informal network of waste collectors and scrap dealers. Our project recognises the existing flow of materials and aims to enhance it by implementing formal regulations and trade licensing. This involves addressing the health risks, financial opportunities, and opportunities for inclusion that these collectors and dealers have. We are using a tech-based platform to map this network and monitor the materials we purchase from them. This helps ensure that they are sourced ethically and not obtained through child labour. Ultimately, the plastic waste we acquire is transformed into Polyester Staple Fibre (PSF), which is then used in H&M’s garments. We are excited about expanding this project across the country.
Garbageman’s work seems to be at the forefront of waste management solutions in Dhaka. What are your hopes for the future of the company?
While Garbageman started in Dhaka, our mission to modernise waste management is growing. We’re currently testing the waters in Chittagong with a limited-scale operation. We are also gearing up to open a high-capacity collection hub in Gazipur. Financially, we’re bootstrapped by our own revenue now, but we have plans to seek additional funding in the next fiscal year.