AT THE PRICE OF WHAT? Extracting copper from discarded electrical wires takes a couple of steps. The rubber of the outer layer is burned and the raw copper that’s left is then washed and dried. At Dhaka’s Kamrangirchar, a group of people bring sacks full of wires to this open area, burn them, and wash them in nearby water bodies. They get around Tk 300-350 for each kg of copper, but in the process end up doing a disproportionate amount of harm to the area’s air and water. What’s more, the workers don’t even wear any protective gear to save themselves from the dark cloud of fumes they emit. These photos were taken recently. Photo: Rashed Shumon
