Buenos Aires' dumpsters - 13th July 2023

In Argentina food's expensive. Last year, prices went up by 117 percent. But wages aren't going up. Many women are searching dumpsters for food. They want to feed their families.

Every week, Gladys Meza and Limpia Benitez travel to Buenos Aires' central market dumpsters.

Limpia Benitez: "Today I came with my neighbour to collect vegetables. We don't see them as trash, at least I don't. I thank God for having this, because my husband works and he works on the books, but it's not enough. It's not enough. And well, at least to help him, I come here to collect vegetables."

40 percent of people are poor. Some people collect food from rubbish bins. There's a lot of food waste. The women aren't embarrassed. But they're angry about the waste.

Limpia Benitez: "Obviously, it sometimes makes me angry and I think to myself: 'Why, God? Why? Why so much waste?' There is so much hunger, there are people who are really in need. The other day, 15 days ago, I had a cart and a bag full. Those vegetables lasted only two days because I gave them to all my neighbours, to the people who really needed them. I am not cheap."

The women travel home with 20 kilograms of food. They clean and prepare it. Some food they can't eat. They give this to animals or use it in the garden.

Limpia Benitez: "But I'm not ashamed, I don't feel bad about this. On the contrary, I feel good because I take it as a job, because in fact, we are also working, we make an effort to carry everything."

This food helps the women save $30 a week. Some of their friends clean houses. They earn less money. They're looking for jobs. They want more pay. And food prices continue to go up. The dumpsters are their only help.