São Paulo — On Day 3 of Expo Catadores 2025, the award sculpture Encantos da Catação, created by artist Debora Muszkat, was presented as a symbol of recognition for the essential role waste pickers play in building Brazil’s circular economy.
The artwork was developed in collaboration with the Paraisópolis Através do Vidro project, a capacity-building program hosted at the G10 Pavilion in the Paraisópolis community, São Paulo. The trophy was awarded to companies and partners recognized as Friends of the Waste Pickers (Amigos do Catador), highlighting the importance of collaboration between cooperatives, industry, and public policy.
Glass was chosen as the central material for its strong symbolic meaning. Although it is one of the most important materials for food storage, glass still faces structural challenges in Brazil, including the lack of effective reverse logistics and economic valorization throughout its life cycle — issues that directly affect recycling cooperatives and networks.
Encantos da Catação was constructed using fragments of refractory glass and mirrors, materials whose recycling processes remain limited. The sculpture also introduces the characters CatiMi and MicaTi, created from post-consumer nail polish bottles — a type of waste rarely collected due to paint contamination and the absence of viable reuse solutions.
One of the most symbolic moments of the day was the presentation of the trophy to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, during a ceremony that marked significant institutional advances for Brazil’s popular recycling sector. The gesture reinforced official recognition of the historically undervalued work carried out by waste pickers.
By transforming discarded materials into artistic language, Encantos da Catação stands as a record of a historic moment for recycling in Brazil, connecting art, social impact, and public policy.
“I am deeply grateful to the waste pickers, cooperatives, partners, and everyone who believes that what has been discarded holds potential, dignity, and a future. This work is a tribute to those who transform the world with their own hands.”
Debora Muszkat