A catador, or scavenger, picks through trash at Jardim Gramacho, a massive landfill in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The three-decades old landfill was shut down Sunday.
A catador, or scavenger, picks through trash at Jardim Gramacho, a massive landfill in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The three-decades old landfill was shut down Sunday.
AFP/Getty Images
Jardim Gramacho, or Gramacho Gardens, is piled almost 300 feet high over 14 million square feet -- the equivalent of 244 American football fields.
Jardim Gramacho, or Gramacho Gardens, is piled almost 300 feet high over 14 million square feet -- the equivalent of 244 American football fields.
AFP/Getty Images
At its peak, Jardim Gramacho had about 5,000 catadores, people who spend their days scouring landfills for plastic, paper, wood, metal and anything else that can be sold to recycling companies.
At its peak, Jardim Gramacho had about 5,000 catadores, people who spend their days scouring landfills for plastic, paper, wood, metal and anything else that can be sold to recycling companies.
AFP/Getty Images
According to Brazil's environment ministry, only 18% of the entire country's recycling is done as part of a formal program. That means most recycling is done by catadores.
According to Brazil's environment ministry, only 18% of the entire country's recycling is done as part of a formal program. That means most recycling is done by catadores.
AFP/Getty Images
Catadores have been depicted by many media outlets and were featured in Vik Muniz's Oscar-nominated 2010 documentary "Waste Land."
Catadores have been depicted by many media outlets and were featured in Vik Muniz's Oscar-nominated 2010 documentary "Waste Land."
AFP/Getty Images
Jardim Gramacho is being capped by clay. About 75 million cubic meters of methane gas will be collected from the site over the next 15 years. After that, it is supposed to become a park.
Jardim Gramacho is being capped by clay. About 75 million cubic meters of methane gas will be collected from the site over the next 15 years. After that, it is supposed to become a park.
city of rio de janeiro
Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes was there for Sunday's closing.
Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes was there for Sunday's closing.
City of Rio de Janeiro
The landfills are giving way to more modern treatment facilities designed to reduce their environmental impact.
The landfills are giving way to more modern treatment facilities designed to reduce their environmental impact.
city of rio de janeiro