Diego Saldanha has created an eco-barrier on the Atube river, which runs behind his house, to hold back trash that is discarded in the waters. The Curitiba fruit seller’s invention has been in operation for a year. It is made out of plastic containers and a net.

Saldanha thinks that the barrier has already collected 1.5 tonnes of trash overall, including plastic bottles, balls, a stove, and a sofa. Objects get stuck in the net when they are carried by the tide and then are retrieved by the seller. Some items, such as dolls, are restored and sold in a thrift shop. Others are sent to a school that sorts them and puts them up for sale.

In Brazil, several cities dispose of trash in their rivers.  Aside from affecting animals that live in water, waste can lead to river overflow and flooding.

Questions – level II

What are some of the effects of disposing of trash in rivers?
a. Waste can lead to flooding.
b.Trash is harmful to animals because it is absorbed by the waters.
c. The trash does not affect the rivers.
d. Trash increases global warming. 

What type of objects has the seller found in the river?