One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Music

Abstract

In her poster presentation, Smeyder Silvera of Paraguay will provide a detailed overview of a unique type of recycling based on her one-of-a-kind, naturalistic observation of children who dwell close to a landfill in Cateura, a slum alongside a landfill located not far from Paraguay's capital city, Asunción. She will show how these children reframe the idea of trash. The presenter will also shed light on some of her most fascinating findings, which include how these children recycle trash into musical instruments, how they have formed a very successful orchestra, and how this ensemble supports the livelihood of 2,500 families who live near the landfill. Smeyder Silvera hopes to inspire and raise the audience’s awareness on recycling.