Hugo Palotto

The aim ofthis project is to show the lives and work of a community often forgotten by Brazilian society Who are, Yet vitally important to their cities. It explore sthe streets of Sao Paulo and those who live off them. They are the “Catadores”,the people who clean the streets but often go unseen. They recycle the citieswaste and help the environment but most city dwellers don’t notice them, someview them only as scavengers. With modernisation and development at the Brazilian doorstep, the work of the Catadores have become even more important. As the country grows, it produces more, consumes more and wastes more. Sadly, recycling policies in mostBrazilian cities have not caught-up and as a result, tonnes of recyclable materials are discarded each year. The Paper Collectors collect and sort through rubbish saving recyclable materials and selling them on to others. They do this to earn a living but it is more than just survival since their work hasa significant positive impact on the streets of Sao Paulo. With environmental awareness increasing around the world, I hope these photographs draw attention, and bring dignity to the Sao Paulo Paper Collectors and the important work they do.