Expanish Volunteer Blog
Help with the Recycling Efforts in Buenos Aires
Although Argentina is improving year after year in its efforts to be more environmentally aware, it does still have a way to go in its recycling efforts, and the ‘Cartoneros’ (recyclers) of Buenos Aires could use your help!
In reality, there is no ‘real’, government paid recycling program in Buenos Aires. Over the past decade, a large group of people, referred to as Cartoneros, have begun spreading throughout the city, searching through garbage bags and bins, put on the street at night, to find plastics, cardboard, bottles, paper, and other recyclable goods. From collecting these recyclables they can then sell it to recycling companies in Argentina, a job which today over 40,000 Cartoneros are doing. Since the Cartoneros began gathering the recycling from the streets of Buenos Aires in 2002, an estimated 25% of the amount of solid waste going to local landfills has been reduced. Imagine what change could come in another 10!
How can you help? A simple and efficient way to lend your volunteer efforts is to separate all recyclables in your house, place them in separate bags (apart from the regular garbage) and place them on the streets at night. This has two benefits: one, Cartoneros no longer have to go through heaps of people’s garbage in order to find a few recyclables; two, this method keeps the streets cleaner as often the governments garbage cleaners come after the Carteneros, throwing the now opened garbage bags in their truck, often spilling part of the contents over the sidewalk and street.
This is a great way to do your part and act as your own independent volunteer in Buenos Aires.
