In developing countries, there is a culture of reuse and recycling. Waste collectors roam residential areas in large towns and cities in search of reusable articles. Some of the products that result from the processing of waste are particularly impressive and the levels of skill and ingenuity are high.
Recycling artisans have integrated themselves into the traditional market place and have created a viable livelihood for themselves in this sector.
In Karachi, Pakistan, for example, tyres are collected and cut into parts to obtain secondary materials which can be put to good use. The beads of the tyres are removed and the rubber removed by burning to expose the steel. The tread and sidewalls are separated, the tread is cut into thin strips and used to cover the wheels of donkey carts, while the side walls are used for production of items such as shoe soles, slippers and washers.
Extract taken from Warren Report, Intermediate Technology Development Group.
