I shot this photo essay at Stung Meanchey the massive public garbage dump located just outside of Phnom Penh Cambodia. Stung Meanchey spreads for a distance of 8 football fields and is a post apocalyptic experience. Fires from burning electronics and car parts fill the sky with acrid smoke, as the black smoke curls into the air, battered yellow bulldozers plow mounds of trash into small mountains.
While walking through the maze of refuse, It became difficult to find solid ground. My guide told me some of the common hazards of Stung Meanchey were falling through sinkholes and Bulldozers running over recyclers by accident.
I pondered upon this as I made my way through a small path of old rice sacks, laid on top of the garbage to give one some footing. As I made my way across a large area of broken bottles and rotten food thousands of flies took flight, one thing you immediately notice is the smell of Stung Meanchey. The stench stays with you for days In your clothes, your mouth, your nose it becomes almost impossible to scrub off.
I imagine for the people who have to come here every day to make a living it must be something that they overcome but never forget when they return home.
While at the dump I witnessed hundreds of people trying to survive by recycling what they find in the massive mountains of garbage.
Many of the recyclers live in shacks alongside the dump, in some cases living on top of the dump itself.
What I found most disturbing were the number of small children present. Children as young as six years old try to eke out an existence by recycling in order to put food into their mouths.
Visiting Stung Meanchey was a sobering experience that I will never forget. One child in particular left an impression with me forever.
I came upon him on the dirt road leading to the dump.
He was bare foot wearing a pair of white stained sweat pants and upon his head was a red cap. One of the reasons I was drawn to him was the fact that he was missing an arm and appeared dazed.
In the boys remaining arm was a metal hook used to probe the mounds of trash for bottles. I will never forget his expression when I looked into his eyes; it was as if he had given up. That look still haunts me to this day when I think of Stung Meanchey.
While walking through the maze of refuse, It became difficult to find solid ground. My guide told me some of the common hazards of Stung Meanchey were falling through sinkholes and Bulldozers running over recyclers by accident.
I pondered upon this as I made my way through a small path of old rice sacks, laid on top of the garbage to give one some footing. As I made my way across a large area of broken bottles and rotten food thousands of flies took flight, one thing you immediately notice is the smell of Stung Meanchey. The stench stays with you for days In your clothes, your mouth, your nose it becomes almost impossible to scrub off.
I imagine for the people who have to come here every day to make a living it must be something that they overcome but never forget when they return home.
While at the dump I witnessed hundreds of people trying to survive by recycling what they find in the massive mountains of garbage.
Many of the recyclers live in shacks alongside the dump, in some cases living on top of the dump itself.
What I found most disturbing were the number of small children present. Children as young as six years old try to eke out an existence by recycling in order to put food into their mouths.
Visiting Stung Meanchey was a sobering experience that I will never forget. One child in particular left an impression with me forever.
I came upon him on the dirt road leading to the dump.
He was bare foot wearing a pair of white stained sweat pants and upon his head was a red cap. One of the reasons I was drawn to him was the fact that he was missing an arm and appeared dazed.
In the boys remaining arm was a metal hook used to probe the mounds of trash for bottles. I will never forget his expression when I looked into his eyes; it was as if he had given up. That look still haunts me to this day when I think of Stung Meanchey.
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