Maeen Md Khairul Akter, a PhD student researcher at the Waste Data and Analysis Center (WDAC), has recently published a research article in the Journal of Advanced Manufacturing and Processing, exploring the role of textile solid waste in the circular economy, with focus on the Mirpur cluster in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The article, titled “Textile Solid Waste End‐Market in the Circular Economy: The Mirpur Cluster in Bangladesh,” examines how pre-consumer textile waste generated during the production of yarn, fabric, and garments, is managed and reused in one of the world’s largest apparel-producing countries.
Based on field surveys and interviews, the study found that approximately 76% of textile solid waste is reused, 11% is used to produce recycled yarn, another 11% is used as fuel or in road construction, and only 2% is discarded as fabric dust. The Mirpur cluster processes around 600 to 800 tons of textile waste each month and employs between 800 and 1,000 people, the majority of whom are women.
The research highlights how this informal system contributes to waste reduction and job creation. However, it also points out the lack of formal regulation and oversight, suggesting that with better support, such practices could be integrated into a more structured circular economy.
Reflecting on the study, Maeen said, “Waste end-markets play a crucial role in the circular economy providing means for businesses operating in the waste industry not only generating economy but also contributing in social well-being by creating employment and protecting the environment. The insights from the Mirpur textile waste end-market clusters provides new knowledge on how such a market functions, and how proper policies can help flourish such markets facilitating true material circularity.“
This work contributes to a better understanding of how local waste markets operate and the potential they hold for sustainable development. It also opens the door for further studies on how informal circular practices can be supported and scaled through policy and infrastructure.