Between Fields and Dumps

portraits of daily life in Spaces of invisibility in the Baixada Maranhense

Abstract

The photographic essay addresses the socio-environmental problems of the Baixada Maranhense, focusing on the open-air dumps present in most of its 21 municipalities. The region, known for its vast hydrographic network and floodplains, resembles the Pantanal of Mato Grosso but faces serious issues related to the improper disposal of solid waste. According to recent data (SINISA, 2024; SNIS, 2022), more than 70% of the state of Maranhão still uses dumps as the final destination for its waste, with only five municipalities in the Baixada having environmentally adequate disposal. The dumps become spaces of invisibility, revealing social and environmental inequalities, mainly affecting vulnerable communities and recyclable material collectors. The essay results from field research carried out in May 2024 in the municipalities of Pinheiro, Peri-Mirim, São Bento, and Presidente Sarney. The photographs, initially produced as research support material, became the central object of reflection, exploring the society-nature relationship from a critical geography perspective. The images reveal everything from the typical floodplains of the Baixada to the contrasts between the natural environment and the degradation caused by waste. The study highlights aspects such as the precarious working conditions of waste pickers, the presence of animals and carcasses in the dumps, and the environmental impact on areas near watercourses. The work concludes that the dumps are a material expression of inequality and poor public management, affecting both the environment and the quality of life.