One man's trash, another man's treasure - 13th July 2023

Argentina's inflation has risen to 114 percent, while food prices have skyrocketed by 117 percent within the past year. Many women are left with no choice but to dumpster dive to provide food for their families.

Gladys Meza and Limpia Benitez make a weekly journey to Buenos Aires to search through the dumpsters near the central market.

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."

Once the wealthiest country in South America, poverty now affects approximately 40 percent of Argentina. The women aren't ashamed of digging through rubbish to obtain food. Instead, they're angry about the wastefulness they witness.

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."

After commuting by bus and train, these women transport up to 20 kilograms of produce back to their homes where they carefully clean, sort, and prepare it. Any items unsuitable for human consumption are either used as animal feed or utilised for composting purposes.

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."

By scavenging through market rubbish, the women can save up to $30 per week. This is more than some friends who clean houses for 9 to 10 hours a week earn. As long as they struggle to find higher-paying jobs and food prices keep rising, dumpster diving will remain necessary for them to survive.