The Children Behind the Brands

I had observed children on the streets of Dhaka selling bottled drinks and collecting waste bottles for many years. However, it was only after I contributed to and watched the film “Green Foot Soldiers,” produced by Dr. Hasan Reza, Associate Professor at the Indiana University School of Social Work, that I became aware of the role these children play in recycling. I was curious to explore further: who produces the bottles these children sell and collect, and what happens to the waste after it is delivered to initial collection depots? I developed an interest in the connection between the children’s work and the well-known brands consumed daily by the public—many of which emphasise their use of recycled materials.