ASMARE is a collective of some 200 <em>catadores</em> who collect and separate recyclable materials. Many transform the items they find into jewelry or works of art before selling them. Here a necklace and earring combo have been fashioned from disused lighting and wire.
Trash to treasure —
ASMARE is a collective of some 200 catadores who collect and separate recyclable materials. Many transform the items they find into jewelry or works of art before selling them. Here a necklace and earring combo have been fashioned from disused lighting and wire.
Courtesy Asmare
The artists and <em>catadores</em> of the ASMARE cooperative pose together in the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte. Front right is Mauricio Soares, co-ordinator of the organization's art program.
Strike a pose —
The artists and catadores of the ASMARE cooperative pose together in the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte. Front right is Mauricio Soares, co-ordinator of the organization's art program.
Courtesy Asmare
A number of ASMARE's employees are the formerly homeless, ex-convicts or individuals who have stumbled upon hard times and are seeking to readjust to society. Pictured are seats and a sculpture made by members of the collective. A 2010 report by the Business Commitment for Recycling association estimated that there were around one million <em>catadores</em> in Brazil.
Stylish seats —
A number of ASMARE's employees are the formerly homeless, ex-convicts or individuals who have stumbled upon hard times and are seeking to readjust to society. Pictured are seats and a sculpture made by members of the collective. A 2010 report by the Business Commitment for Recycling association estimated that there were around one million catadores in Brazil.
Courtesy Asmare
Paper, cans, bottles and other recyclable objects are all of potential value, with some pickers specializing in locating just one type of material.
Recycled spirals —
Paper, cans, bottles and other recyclable objects are all of potential value, with some pickers specializing in locating just one type of material.
Courtesy Asmare
A necklace decked out with artificial roses as fashioned by members of ASMARE. The Belo Horizonte organization may be Brazil's first waste-pickers co-operative (founded 23 years ago) but they are not the only ones using art to lift the profile of the <em>catadore.</em>
Recycled roses —
A necklace decked out with artificial roses as fashioned by members of ASMARE. The Belo Horizonte organization may be Brazil's first waste-pickers co-operative (founded 23 years ago) but they are not the only ones using art to lift the profile of the catadore.
Courtesy Asmare
A <em>catadore</em> sifts through the trash at the Jardin Gramacho landfill site in Rio de Janeiro. The facility was closed in 2012 but featured as the backdrop for the 2010 Oscar nominated movie, "Wasteland."
Rio's wasteland —
A catadore sifts through the trash at the Jardin Gramacho landfill site in Rio de Janeiro. The facility was closed in 2012 but featured as the backdrop for the 2010 Oscar nominated movie, "Wasteland."
AFP/Getty Images
The film depicted workers at the site as they became active participants in a project of the Brazilian artist, Vik Muniz, which eventually raised tens of thousands of dollars for the <em>catadores</em>.
Luxury landfill —
The film depicted workers at the site as they became active participants in a project of the Brazilian artist, Vik Muniz, which eventually raised tens of thousands of dollars for the catadores.
AFP/Getty Images