Open Landfills Nordestino
BY PAULO ALMEIDA
In early 2021, Paulo documented Brazil’s remaining open landfills, primarily in the underdeveloped northeast region, earning him an Honourable Mention in the 2022 Earth Partner Prize. Witnessing scorched earth and people emerging from smoke-covered in bags, Paulo bravely captured the scene. Research revealed that open landfills had been illegal since 2010, yet their existence harmed the climate and workers lacking proper medical care. These landfills emitted methane, carbon dioxide, and other harmful substances, destroying the land and impeding future growth. Toxic leachate endangered workers’ health. Paulo’s project sheds light on this global issue, where people suffer and our planet deteriorates.
ABOUT PAULO
Paulo is a Brazilian born photographer living in between London and New York. After spending a few years shooting the skateboarding cultures around him and assisting photographers in the US, he decided to focus on his own work and the story it could tell. Since participating in the contest, Paulo has been working on a project documenting his hometown in the northeast of Brazil. The project focuses on the day-to-day lives of the residents, as well as wider depictions of local culture.