Rohingya Camp Upcycling Program

Waste problem and empowerment

World Food Program

Bangladesh

2021

In Bangladesh, Kutupalong is the world’s biggest refugee camp with more than 860,000 Rohingya refugees from neighbouring Myanmar. The Rohingya camps generate 119.8 tons of waste per day. Much like everywhere else, the waste problem in the camps demands a sustainable solution.One way WFP is setting out to offset packaging waste is upcycling. Food from WFP’s e-voucher outlets, where Rohingya families choose their groceries every month, is packaging-free, but wraps have to be used for fortified food and special nutritional products. Through a new upcycling centre, this packaging waste is transformed back into useful products. Rohingya refugees have been able to brainstorm, design, and create user-friendly products from waste.