16th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Recycling

Cardboard collection is usually done by old ladies that rely on the money earned from recycling the cardboard. Some do it because they need the money to survive, others do it because they want to keep working. One thing is for sure, this is a demanding but also a vital role, often overlooked by society. This image captured one of the oldest 'cardboard ladies' in the area. She is extremely agile and swift. This is an extremely difficult task especially in the summer where it often reaches 30 degrees. They also get extremely busy when nearby stores (selling fruits, clothes, meats etc) are selling more items. Most people would see them as victims of poor welfare policies and social insecurity (as there was no mandatory pension system), but its more important to bring forward their strong-mindedness, resilience and fortitude.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2018
Date Uploaded: 11.2018
Photo Location: Sham Shui Po , Hong Kong
Camera: X-T20
Copyright: © Philippe Li