Making music from waste with Landfill Harmonic

Have you heard of Landfill Harmonic? It’s the most inspiring orchestra you’ll come across, an orchestra whose instruments are entirely made of landfill waste and played by children from one of the poorest slums in Paraguay.

Located just outside Asunción, the people of Cateura live on and from landfill waste. In a community consumed by poverty and rife with social problems such as violence and alcoholism, music teacher Nicolas Chávez and rubbish picker Nicolás Gómez began a project to transform the lives of young people in the area. The result is ‘Los Reciclados’, the ‘Recycled Orchestra’, or ‘Landfill Harmonic’.

In a region where a real violin is worth more than a house, the young Landfill Harmonic players now have access to instruments made entirely from waste. With violins and cellos made from oil drums, flutes made from water pipes and spoons, and guitars made from packing crates, the children have come together to make beautiful music, conducted by Chávez.

The limitless power of music has injected hope and happiness into an otherwise challenging existence in the slums, and has given the children a real sense of optimism for the future. Now, with funds raised via Kickstarter.com, Landfill Harmonic is getting ready to embark on a world tour, during which they’ll share their magical music and spread their message of hope to countries across the globe.

Chávez also has plans to open chapters of the ‘Recycled Orchestra’ in other developing communities, with a view to helping many more young people thrive. This will also help to raise awareness of major global pollution issues and highlight the importance of giving waste a new lease of life.

To see Landfill Harmonic in action, click here.