Photojournalism: Singles: JAN9_singles__0058

Firoz Milon collects waste on the Buriganga river in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He sells one kilo of waste for 20 taka and says he averages 400-600 taka per day of work. Bangladesh has been reportedly ranked 10th out of the top 20 plastic polluter in the world with the Buriganga river known as one of the most polluted rivers in the country due to rampant dumping of industrial and human waste. Like many developing countries, Bangladesh lacks the infrastructure to effectively manage their waste which causes problems in keeping the waters safe for human and aquatic lives while dozens of tanneries on the banks of the river contribute industrial waste into the ground water. As June 5 was marked by the United Nations as World Environment Day, Buriganga symbolizes the general state of many rivers in Bangladesh, with the growing levels of pollutants and plastic waste consuming up all oxygen in the river and affecting our seafood while fishes consume bits of plastic which mimics their natural food sources and eventually lands on our dinner table.

Firoz Milon collects waste on the Buriganga river in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He sells one kilo of waste for 20 taka and says he averages 400-600 taka per day of work. Bangladesh has been reportedly ranked 10th out of the top 20 plastic polluter in the world with the Buriganga river known as one of the most polluted rivers in the country due to rampant dumping of industrial and human waste. Like many developing countries, Bangladesh lacks the infrastructure to effectively manage their waste which causes problems in keeping the waters safe for human and aquatic lives while dozens of tanneries on the banks of the river contribute industrial waste into the ground water. As June 5 was marked by the United Nations as World Environment Day, Buriganga symbolizes the general state of many rivers in Bangladesh, with the growing levels of pollutants and plastic waste consuming up all oxygen in the river and affecting our seafood while fishes consume bits of plastic which mimics their natural food sources and eventually lands on our dinner table.