Tamanna Urmi

2015 - 2016

Alumni

Legatum Fellow

From:

Bangladesh

Sector:

Energy/Utilities

Location:

Bangladesh

Degree:

BS, School of Engineering

Ways2Clean collects, sorts, and streams organic and inorganic waste to make fertilizer and biofuels, among other chemical products, for the Bangladeshi market. Bangladesh’s public utility agencies face many challenges in collecting, sorting, and recycling or disposing of waste in growing urban areas. Through public-private partnerships, Ways2Clean is catalyzing the development of the waste collection and management infrastructure, raising public awareness of the value of recycling, improving working conditions for workers in the industry, and creating healthier communities.

Tamanna was born in the city of Dinajpur in the state of Rajshahi and later moved to Dhaka, the capital of the country. The overburdened waste management infrastructures in both cities made her realize how important it is to create a system that both keeps the cities clean and incentivizes residents, governments, and industry by offering economic incentives.

Tamanna founded Ways2Clean in July 2014 after completing chemistry and system design coursework, as well as completing field-based work with MIT faculty. She gained the practical knowledge for founding and leading Ways2Clean by working with a D-Lab team to design a waste management system in Kuna Yala, Panama. Tamanna has also traveled to India and Mexico, and learned about waste management practices in both places.

Tamanna is a candidate for a BS in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in industrial design at the School of Engineering.