It is the most toxic and dangerous place in Central America. The stench is unbearable and the smell of methane gas is everywhere. It was also home to thousands of families who lived there for over sixty years. Welcome to Guatemala City’s garbage dump.

Until a short documentary film called "Recycled Life" was nominated for an Oscar, few people outside of Guatemala were even aware of the garbage dump community. Referred to as “guajeros,” the residents of the dump comb the trash daily looking for food and items that can be recycled and sold. Shunned by the residents of the city, many lived their entire life in the dump.

In an interview, the director of the documentary, Leslie Iwerks, describes the horrific stench of the garbage dump and the appalling conditions of the people living there. With every story she captured she became more committed to the people and their lives. She also talked about the generosity of these people who had so very little.

Hanley Denning, a remarkable young woman whose work was featured in the film, started a not for profit organization called “Safe Passage” for the families in the dump. Determined to better their lives, she began an education center for adults and children. Until then, the children worked beside their parents sorting garbage, looking for anything that could be used or sold. With no education, they were doomed to spend their lives in this dump. Tragically, Denning was killed in a car accident in Guatemala City last January.

After a fire in the dump in 2005, fueled by toxic gasses, new regulations prohibited children under the age of fourteen from entering the dump.

Produced by Mike Glad and directed by Leslie Iwerks, the documentary is being shown at film festivals throughout the U.S. this year. It will be airing on Cinemax August 16th.

http://www.safepassage.org/ Safe Passage Homepage

More information about the documentary

About Hanley Denning