Sun Sets On Payatas Dump

Payatas Sun Set, originally uploaded by suvajack.

In July of 2000, a massive typhoon hit Quezon City, Philippines. It triggered an avalanche from a mammoth garbage mountain that toppled many homes and took the lives of over 2000 people. You might wonder what so many people were doing living in a dump. It turns out that the Filipinos who scavenge Manila’s 7,500 tons of household waste salvage and sell our scraps and recyclables for around 150 - 300 php pesos a day. Thats about 3 - 6 Canadian dollars a day. Ironically 300 php is close to the national average wage.

After hearing about the dump from a friend back home we thought we would search it out next time we were in Manila. Turns out as we had a free day as we awaited the Manila F.A.M.E. show. It would be interesting and a great opportunity to see the contrast from a high-end furniture and design fair to a trip to one of Manila's largest most historic landfills.

Exploring Payatas

Payatas dumpsite is one of the largest landfills and poorest areas of metro Manila where many families make a living by scavenging and recycling from tons and tons of garbage. Alex and I decided to check out the dumpsite to get a good glimpse of the action, but unfortunately, we had to have a letter stating our purpose. So instead, we wandered the surrounding neighborhoods on our own. There, we encountered some of the poorest yet most caring, loving people truly living a simple life. The fun and adorable children were so great to us. They made it a heartfelt afternoon I will never forget. Looking at the pictures of that single afternoon always makes me smile. We plan to return soon to give them the photos we took of them.

Occupation - Recycler

Payatas Dump - Plastic Recycler, originally uploaded by suvajack.

Scattered around the dump you can find many spots focusing on recycling a particular garbaged commodity. Here, this girl sorts through different types of plastic. It's a strange place filled with recyclers working in a place filled with buildings that both resemble and function as a business and home.

This man takes sorted garbage and soaks and washes the plastic. It's a long, hard day to earn is few dollars. Sorting, sifting, sorting, sifting.

Amazing how one man's waste is another man's meal ticket.