Garment waste is driving a multi-crore recycling economy in Gazipur, creating jobs, supporting circular practices, and transforming textile waste into valuable resources.
A thriving secondary market worth hundreds of crores of taka has emerged in Gazipur around discarded jhute and cotton generated by Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) industry, creating employment for thousands and supporting a growing range of domestic industries and exports.
Industry sources estimate that more than 10,000–12,000 tonnes of discarded jhute and cotton are produced daily by over a thousand garment factories in Gazipur city and surrounding areas. Once treated as waste, these materials are now widely reused as raw inputs across multiple manufacturing sectors, both within Bangladesh and overseas.
Hundreds of traders and thousands of workers are directly engaged in the collection, processing and sale of garment waste. Major trading hubs have developed in areas such as Tongi Millgate and Majhukhan in Gazipur, Purba Chandra in Kaliakoir, Ambagh, and Mauna in Sreepur. In addition, smaller localized markets, commonly referred to as “jhute palli”, are spread across different parts of the district.
Mohammad Abu Saker, President of the Tongi Millgate Jhute and Cotton Market Traders Association, said that approximately 2,000–3,000 tonnes of jhute and cotton are traded daily at the Tongi Millgate market alone. He added that discarded materials collected from garment factories are supplied to local spinning mills as well as small and medium-sized enterprises across several districts.
Beyond meeting domestic demand, a significant share of recycled jhute and cotton is exported to international markets including India, China, Turkey, Hong Kong and the United States.
Within Bangladesh, factories in Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj and Savar are producing mattresses, car seats, pillows, cushions, dolls, mops, dusters, carpet backings, shopping bags and floor mats using recycled cotton and yarn. Meanwhile, lower-priced bed sheets, towels and lungis are being manufactured in districts such as Narsingdi, Kishoreganj and Mymensingh. In Noakhali and Chattogram, shipyards and industrial units are producing wiping rags, while export-oriented jhute processing units have also been established.
According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), exports of discarded garment jhute and cotton have risen steadily in recent years. Export earnings from the segment reached approximately Tk 411.12 million in the 2022–23 fiscal year, with key destinations including India, China, Turkey, Hong Kong, the United States and countries in the European Union.
Abu Saker noted that Gazipur, as one of Bangladesh’s largest garment manufacturing hubs, generates a substantial volume of textile waste. He added that with the introduction of modern recycling systems and improved infrastructure, export earnings from the sector could rise to Tk 4–5 billion or more.
However, industry participants have flagged several challenges. Unplanned and unsafe warehousing has resulted in frequent fire incidents at jhute and cotton storage facilities, posing significant safety and financial risks. There are also concerns about unethical interference by influential groups, which traders say has led to losses for legitimate businesses.
Experts believe that with proper planning, enhanced safety standards and more effective market oversight, the discarded jhute and cotton segment could play a stronger role in supporting Bangladesh’s ready-made garment industry while contributing meaningfully to export growth.
News Courtesy : Apparel Resources