The Merkato, the largest open market in Africa, is the beating heart of Addis Ababa. The large part of the market is dedicated for recycling and forging waste into new products. You can find metal, plastic, paper, rubber, wood and many others. The Merkato plays a key role of processing waste in the informal sector, grown from the lack of formal recycling facilities, and employs a significant number of locals and migrants working on getting a new life to the thrown away items.
