A Rio de Janeiro dump , the largest in South America , is closing after three decades . It 's part of a continuing effort led by Rio 's state environment minister to close all of the area 's five official open-air landfills -- as well as an unknown number of clandestine ones -- by 2014 . Score: 6 Thousands of scavengers , called catadores , made their living off recycling trash there . The government is promising to retrain workers , improve slums , turn land into park .
A Rio de Janeiro dump , the largest in South America , is closing after three decades . Score: 6 Thousands of scavengers , called catadores , made their living off recycling trash there . The government is promising to retrain workers , improve slums , turn land into park .