Sohel Mia (30) takes his van to various households to collect waste and scavenge in garbage dumps across the city. When Sohel was 10 years old, he was introduced to this line of work as a waste collector. He earns an average of 15,000 taka per month from this job. However, as he grows older, he has been experiencing leg and knee pains since he has to go up and down many flights of stairs to collect garbage from different stories of buildings. “Garbage disposal in smaller homes is relatively easy but it is equally hard in high-rise buildings that have more than six or seven floors where waste pickers like me are not allowed to use the elevator and climb stairs to collect trash as a means of livelihood,” said Sohel. During the Covid-19 pandemic, household waste collectors worry that some of the trash might carry traces of the virus as they work without safety gears. It has not only disrupted the supply chain including the one that leads to the landfill but also some waste collectors have gotten sick or had to quarantine or left the city.

Azizul Huq (60) has spent the last 25 years picking up plastics and other recyclable products from garbage left on the sides of the roads and in dustbins. From picking up trash to rummaging through disposed of trash bags to walking barefoot through dumping grounds, and carrying heavy loads of recyclables, Azizul makes a living doing this every single day. “The job is hard. I had many cuts and gashes on my arms and legs while picking waste from the dumps. Sometimes, these injuries affect my work,” said Azizul. This is the story of Azizul, one of many waste pickers in Dhaka, who collects, and segregates waste with no personal protective equipment such as masks and gloves that can keep them safe.

Aklima Begum (30) has been working as a cleaner under City Corporation for the past ten years. Her work consists of sweeping various roads from dawn every day. Due to the nature of her occupation, she faces respiratory problems that happen because of continuous exposure to toxic waste. “I often have breathing problems and allergies, but I need to continue my job to maintain my family,” said Aklima. Like Aklima, many sanitation and waste workers are providing invaluable services to the public and they face many health risks associated with their jobs. The Covid-19 also has an additional burden on their health and wellbeing.