Waste Side Story

(on-going project)

Waste Side Story is a project about the Roma community that lives in Pata Rât, Europe’s largest landfill slum, in the outskirts of Cluj-Napoca, one of Romania's most developed city.

Safe living conditions and social support are essential for building an inclusive society. However, the Roma community in Pata Rât faces severe deficiencies in both areas. Situated only six kilometers from the city center, this community contends with the cumulative impact of environmental pollution, geographical isolation, socio-territorial segregation, housing deprivation, cultural stigmatization, and the racialization of both their space and identity.

Approximately 2,500 people, including more than 1,000 children — primarily of Roma descent — reside in four informal settlements around the Pata Rât landfill. All these settlements, known as Dallas, Garbage Dump, Cantonului Street, and New Pata Rât/Colina Verde, have a history marked by discrimination and environmental hazards. Many residents live in makeshift shelters constructed from discarded materials found on the landfill, such as cardboard, plastic, and rotting wood. Extreme poverty is widespread, and many inhabitants lack access to basic utilities, including electricity.

The health impacts are dire. Leaks from the landfill contaminate soil and groundwater, leading to frequent cases of ear, eye, and skin infections, respiratory conditions like asthma and bronchitis, and other serious health issues such as high blood pressure, heart problems and cancer. These health risks are exacerbated by the burning of waste, which releases noxious smoke into the community. Job opportunities are scarce, predominantly limited to informal work around the waste dump. Educational prospects are similarly bleak, with many children not attending school regularly.

The challenges facing Pata Rât's residents are the result of longstanding structural violence and environmental racism, which have marginalised the Roma community and entrenched their exclusion from societal support systems. Addressing these issues requires a concerted effort to dismantle the systemic barriers that perpetuate their plight.

Through my lens, I found not a story of despair, but one of strength, where the community rises above their surroundings, their dignity and spirit unbroken. Each face tells a tale of perseverance, each gesture speaks of hope. Set against the starkness of their environment, their daily lives reveal an undeniable vibrancy.