In addition, medical waste from all the hospitals in the area was dumped at Jardim Gramacho.

CNN: Landfill's closure changing lives in Rio

At Jardim Gramacho, about 75 million cubic meters of methane gas will be collected over the next 15 years.

CNN: Landfill's closure changing lives in Rio

At the turn of the century, complaints arose that Guanabara Bay was not safe for bathing because of contaminants leaching from Jardim Gramacho.

CNN: Landfill's closure changing lives in Rio

Jardim Brandao dithered on the ball in his own box and Marco Borriello dispossessed him before trying to go round goalkeeper Gianluca Curci.

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The president of the Jardim Gramacho Cooperative of Collectors, Sebastian Carlos dos Santos, notes that there are about 1 million catadores all across Brazil.

CNN: Landfill's closure changing lives in Rio

Criolo, born Kleber Gomes, draws on the grit and poverty of his childhood as the son of a metalworker and a teacher in the Jardim das Imbuias favela, or shantytown.

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At its peak, Jardim Gramacho had about 5, 000 catadores, people who spend their days scouring landfills for plastic, paper, wood, metal and anything else that can be sold to recycling companies.

CNN: Landfill's closure changing lives in Rio