Allure of Aluminium

In a small area in Keraniganj, right off the Buriganga, a road snakes its way through many small tin sheds. The sun's rays playfully bounce off a dazzling array of aluminium strewn about the otherwise nondescript structures. But here, this congregation of buildings work for one purpose: recycling. Some 10-12 recycling centres, employing 20-30 people each, diligently recycle huge amounts of aluminium. It works in a number of stages. First, the workers here visit various scrap metal shops in Lalbagh, Chawkbazar and Islambagh, collecting objects such as kitchen utensils, soda cans and deodorant bottles. These are then taken back to their little factories and the aluminium is extracted. The metal is first shredded, then melted in a furnace and finally moulded into shiny new bricks. The bricks are then sold off to factories where it is used for making brand new kitchen utensils and even pistons for motorbikes!

Photo: Anisur Rahman