As one of the fastest urbanizing economies in South Asia, Bangladesh has been facing a rapid growth of waste generation. In the last three decades, waste volume doubled every 15 years. An average of 55% of solid waste remains uncollected in urban areas, with a variation of collection efficiency from 37% to 77% (Islam, 2021). Among all kind of solid wastes, the mismanagement of plastic waste is more alarming. In last year, Bangladesh was one of the top countries in the world in terms of plastic pollution due to inadequate plastic waste management.

To address this issue, Amal foundation conducted a three months’ scale project named “Entrepreneurship by Plastic: Trash to Treasure Project – Empowering Community through Building Awareness and Installing Livelihoods in the Solid Waste Sector in Bangladesh” in Bogra district. 

The whole project divided in to two major action points. One is the Capacity Building for Entrepreneur of Waste Management Sector and another phase is Awareness Campaign for Youth. For the piloting, total 45 people was selected who are young and aged among 18-35. Among this 45 people, 3 people will be core leader and under each of them, there will be 15 trash collectors. The concept was that the waste workers collected PET bottles from households, corporate offices, institutions, etc. and submitted them to the core leaders in exchange of money. Then the leaders sorted the wastes in segregation hub and sold this to Mumanu Polyester Company Limited where they recycled those bottles. 

Through this project, entrepreneurship opportunities where created for the underprivileged women and youth whereas through the awareness, community people and educational institution where motivated to practice 3R practice (Reuse, Recycle, Reduce) for sustainable environment.