DSCC launches ‘Market in Exchange for Waste’ initiative

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), in partnership with Bidyanondo Foundation, has launched a ‘Market in Exchange for Waste’ initiative to encourage public participation in waste management and support marginalised communities.

DSCC Administrator and freedom fighter Md Abdus Salam formally inaugurated the programme at a field near Hazaribagh slum in Ward 55 on Monday.

Following the inauguration, local residents exchanged collected waste for essential items including rice, lentils, cooking oil, salt, potatoes and tissues from temporary stalls.

Speaking at the event, the DSCC administrator said active public participation is essential to building a clean city. He said dumping plastic and other waste in drains obstructs water flow and contributes to waterlogging.

He announced plans to expand the initiative across the city. A permanent stall will be set up in Gulistan within a week, while DSCC plans to establish one permanent stall in each ward within the next three to four months.

Bidyanondo Foundation Executive Director Jamal Uddin said the initiative aims to make marginalised people partners in keeping the city clean rather than simply providing them with assistance.

He said the foundation earned around Tk 1 crore by selling plastic waste over the past two years, which helped provide meals to nearly 400,000 people. Under the new initiative, the foundation aims to collect around 100,000kg of waste through 100 mobile campaigns over the next year.

Officials from DSCC and volunteers from Bidyanondo Foundation attended the event.

sks