10 Must-Watch Films About Landfills

Description: This documentary follows artist Vik Muniz as he collaborates with catadores (garbage pickers) from the world's largest landfill, Jardim Gramacho, to create art from the waste they collect, highlighting their lives and the art they produce.

Fact: The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, and it showcases the transformative power of art in changing perceptions about waste and the people who work with it.

Description: This film follows three Brazilian boys who find a wallet in a landfill, leading them into a dangerous adventure involving corruption and police brutality. It's a gripping tale of friendship and survival set against the backdrop of poverty and waste.

Fact: The film is based on the novel by Andy Mulligan, and it was shot in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where the real-life Jardim Gramacho landfill was once located.

Description: A post-apocalyptic docu-drama set in 2055, where an archivist looks back at footage from 2008, questioning why humanity did not act on climate change, with scenes including the impact of waste and landfills.

Fact: The film was crowdfunded and features real-life stories from around the world, including a segment on waste management in India.

Description: This documentary tells the story of a Paraguayan music teacher who creates an orchestra for children using instruments made from landfill materials, showcasing the power of music to transcend poverty and environmental challenges.

Fact: The orchestra, known as the Recycled Orchestra, has performed around the world, including at the United Nations.

Description: This documentary looks at the lives of a family in rural China who make a living by recycling plastic waste, highlighting the global trade in waste and its environmental and human toll.

Fact: The film was banned in China but has been widely acclaimed internationally for its raw portrayal of the recycling industry.

Description: This documentary investigates the impact of chemicals in everyday products, many of which end up in landfills, affecting both human health and the environment.

Fact: The film features interviews with scientists, activists, and people affected by chemical exposure, providing a comprehensive look at the issue.

Description: This documentary delves into the world of content moderators in the Philippines, who sift through social media content, often dealing with issues related to waste and environmental impact in their personal lives.

Fact: The film was an official selection at the Sundance Film Festival and explores the ethical dilemmas faced by these "cleaners."

Description: In this animated Pixar film, WALL-E, a waste-collecting robot, lives on a future Earth that has been turned into a giant landfill. The film explores themes of environmental degradation and the importance of recycling.

Fact: WALL-E was the first Pixar film to be nominated for the Best Picture Oscar, and it won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

Description: This documentary follows artist Vik Muniz as he collaborates with catadores (garbage pickers) from the world's largest landfill, Jardim Gramacho, to create art from the waste they collect, highlighting their lives and the art they produce.

Fact: The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, and it showcases the transformative power of art in changing perceptions about waste and the people who work with it.

Description: While not exclusively about landfills, this documentary explores the impact of plastic waste in the ocean, which often originates from landfills, showing the interconnectedness of waste management and environmental health.

Fact: The film was produced by the same team behind "The Cove," and it focuses on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.