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THE RECYCLISTS

Steung Meanchey, aka "The dump", is a region of Phnom Phen located along the infamous road that leads to the sadly known "killing fields", now a memorial to one of the cruelest pages of recent human history. Lying on a site of about 2 square kilometers, Stueng Meanchey is home to the largest garbage dump in Cambodia. The rotten smell of sun-baked trash, festering in the tropical heat and humidity, is unavoidably perceived several blocks away from the main entrance - a worn path beaten by the stream of trucks off-loading the 900 tons of waste produced daily by the capital city of 2 million inhabitants.
The dump is home to some 2000 people, about 600 of which are children. Families are drawn here to make a living as Recyclists, sorting through the fetid waste of the city to collect plastics, metals, anything than can be sold. Some are employed by recycling plants, others are self-employed, selling their finds to the plants or on the black market. None make much more than 4000 to 5000 riel a day, the equivalent of $1.00 to $1.25 US. But with a whole family tunneling through the piles, they can earn more here than in the rural villages that many of them have left behind to cash-in on the economic boom in the city, which has experienced double digit economic growth in recent years.
Each new truck is met with the most eager entreprenuers, hoping to get in early on what precious treasures maybe within. At least ten children have been killed though, buried alive under the rubbish from the dump trucks. And the piles, smoldering from the methane they produce, also contribute to carcinogenic dioxin found in the area and high levels of mercury, cesuim and cadium, which are linked to effects on the nervous, endocrine and immune systems.
Schools, orphanages and NGOs have moved into the area to provide education, health care and other needed services. Recognizing that the children are linked to the family economy, the schools provide a daily meal and rice for the family. But for many this still may not be enough, and the children remain at work, collecting goods on their way home from school, in the evenings, whenever they can.

Meredith Kratzmann





The recyclists merge their life into the garbage,
every load is like a blessing,
every bag is like a gift to be unwrapped,
not much to live on,
but still better than zero
like the hygienic and safety conditions of their working environments. Yet they have to collect plastic,metal anything reusable,
any chance is good to do that.
Speed and digging skills are required.
School for the kids? OK fine can you just pay the family the amount of money the kid would provide if working in the dump?
If yes he can come for few hours a day but always keeping an eye on flying plastic bags...A pregnant mom is waiting in a nearby slum shack.
RECYCLE! REUSE! REUSE! RECYCLE! RECYCLE! REUSE! REUSE! RECYCLE! THANK GOD WE ARE STILL PRODUCING PLASTIC AND WE ARE GIVING THEM A JOB!