CGTN America
It smells really bad here,
especially on a sunny day like this. And people have to work buried in trash, often up to their knees protecting their bodies in whichever way they can with fabric, hats, gloves.
Brazilian cities are racing to comply with a law to close all rubbish dumps until the end of 2018 and replace them with properly built landfills. The nation¹s capital, is nearly ready, but the closure of the old dump threatens the livelihoods of thousands of people who survive on what they can scavenge there.
CCTV America’s Paulo Cabral has this report.
PHOTOS: The trash scavengers
Click on any image to see a full-screen slideshow.
Lixão da Estrutural: The trash scavengers
It smells really bad here,
especially on a sunny day like this. And people have to work buried in trash, often up to their knees protecting their bodies in whichever way they can with fabric, hats, gloves.
Lixão da Estrutural: The trash scavengers
The closure of an old dump
threatens the livelihoods of thousands of people who survive on what they
can scavenge there.
Lixão da Estrutural: The trash scavengers
The Lixão da Estrutural is the final destination for garbage produced by some three million people who live and work in Brazil¹s capital, Brasilia, and the surrounding Federal District.
Lixão da Estrutural: The trash scavengers
CCTV-America's Paulo Cabral producing this report.
Lixão da Estrutural: The trash scavengers
The closure of an old dump
threatens the livelihoods of thousands of people who survive on what they
can scavenge there.
Lixão da Estrutural: The trash scavengers
Here in Brasilia, the catadores are concerned about plans to shut down the dump and send the district's garbage to new landfills that will be
off limits to scavengers.
Lixão da Estrutural: The trash scavengers
Here in Brasilia, the catadores are concerned about plans to shut down the dump and send the district's garbage to new landfills that will be
off limits to scavengers.
Lixão da Estrutural: The trash scavengers
The closure of an old dump
threatens the livelihoods of thousands of people who survive on what they
can scavenge there.
Lixão da Estrutural: The trash scavengers
It smells really bad here,
especially on a sunny day like this. And people have to work buried in trash, often up to their knees protecting their bodies in whichever way they can with fabric, hats, gloves.
Lixão da Estrutural: The trash scavengers
The closure of an old dump
threatens the livelihoods of thousands of people who survive on what they
can scavenge there.
Lixão da Estrutural: The trash scavengers
It smells really bad here,
especially on a sunny day like this. And people have to work buried in trash, often up to their knees protecting their bodies in whichever way they can with fabric, hats, gloves.
Lixão da Estrutural: The trash scavengers
One man's trash is another man's treasure. Garbage is the sole source of income for the thousands of scavengers whom Brazilians call catadores.
Elismar da Silva, Scavenger
"People here are worried, because many never studied and can't do anything else. And we don¹t even know if there will be other places for
all to work."
Lixão da Estrutural: The trash scavengers
The closure of an old dump
threatens the livelihoods of thousands of people who survive on what they
can scavenge there.
Lixão da Estrutural: The trash scavengers
One man's trash is another man's treasure. Garbage is the sole source of income for the thousands of scavengers.
Adailton Rodrigues, Scavenger
"This dump is like a mine that attracts people from all parts. Want it or not, this is a place where you can raise some cash quickly."
Lixão da Estrutural: The trash scavengers
Here in Brasilia, the catadores are concerned about plans to shut down the dump and send the district's garbage to new landfills that will be
off limits to scavengers.
Lixão da Estrutural: The trash scavengers
One man's trash is another man's treasure. Garbage is the sole source of income for the thousands of scavengers.
Lixão da Estrutural: The trash scavengers
The Lixão da Estrutural is the final destination for garbage produced by some three million people who live and work in Brazil¹s capital, Brasilia, and the surrounding Federal District.
Nice Andrade, Scavenger
Nice Andrade spent 30 of her 50 years scrounging trash to feed her six children. Buyers pay about six dollars for each bag of recyclables she fills.
