Jardim Gramacho, Former waste management neighborhood in Duque de Caxias, Brazil.
Jardim Gramacho is a neighborhood in Duque de Caxias near Guanabara Bay that spans wetlands surrounded by mangrove forests and residential areas. The area bears the marks of its industrial past while beginning to show signs of environmental renewal.
From 1968 to 2012, the site held Latin America's largest landfill, processing roughly 80 million tons of waste over decades. Afterward, efforts began to protect and restore the natural environments in the area.
The neighborhood gained wider attention through the 2010 film Waste Land, which showed the stories of workers who sorted recyclables and created art with artist Vik Muniz. This recognition has shaped how people view and remember the place today.
Access to the area is by regular roads, though care should be taken as parts are still undergoing environmental work. Visitors should seek local guidance on which areas are open to explore, since tourism infrastructure is still developing.
The site now demonstrates how contaminated areas can gradually recover, with soil treatment and leachate control working alongside natural regeneration. Visitors can observe mangrove forests beginning to reclaim spaces and wildlife returning to cleaned zones.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
