Landfill Harmonic: The Recycled Orchestra of Cateura, Paraguay

Where: Cateura, a community beside a large landfill in Asunción, the capital city of Paraguay, South America.

When it started: The music program developed around 2007, led by environmental technician and music teacher Favio Chávez. The orchestra grew as children wanted to learn music, and the documentary’s story gained international attention in 2012.

A Little about the Orchestra

The Recycled Orchestra is a group of young musicians who play instruments made from discarded materials collected around the landfill. With the help of Chávez and local recycler Nicolás “Colá” Gómez, materials such as oil cans, scrap metal, and other discarded items were transformed into violins, cellos, guitars, and other instruments.

The orchestra demonstrates how creativity, music, and community can open opportunities for young people. Their story challenges assumptions about what people can achieve when resources are limited and shows how music can create connection, confidence, and a sense of belonging.

Photo by Carolyn McLean

Fun Fact

There is a movie about how they became the Landfill Harmonic Orchestra. They toured Canada and made a stop in Cranbrook in 2015.