Feeling Inflation Pain, Some Argentines Turn to Waste Dumps
2022-10-16
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1Inflation continues to rise to record levels in Argentina.
2The country faces a possible inflation rate of 100 percent this year.
3As prices rise, some people have turned to waste dumps to seek materials that can be sold for recycling.
4Others are lining up to trade personal belongings in special groups, or clubs, to earn extra money.
5This year, the South American nation is set to record its sharpest rise in prices since 1990.
6The rate represents an extreme case although many nations face inflation partly brought on by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
7"My income is no longer enough," said Sergio Omar.
8The 41-year-old told Reuters he spent 12 hours a day searching through waste at a landfill in Lujan, about 65 kilometers outside the capital Buenos Aires. He looks for cardboard, plastic and metal that he can sell.
9Omar said food costs have increased so much in recent months that it has become hard to feed his family with five children.
10He said an increasing number of people are coming to the waste dump to find materials they can sell in the struggle to survive.
11"Twice as many people are coming here because there is so much crisis," Omar added.
12He explained that he could make between $13 and $40 per day selling recyclable waste.
13At the dump, Reuters reporters saw men and women searching for usable clothing and even food.
14They move through mountains of flowing waste, alongside rats, wild dogs and birds.
15Gases produced by the breakdown of waste can cause sudden fires.
16One hundred years ago, Argentina was one of the world's richest countries.
17But in recent years, it has experienced several economic crises and struggled to keep inflation under control.
18Now, prices are rising at the fastest rate since the 1990s.
19The problems are linked to government deficit spending and a series of price increases by businesses.
20Existing problems worsened because of worldwide increases in fertilizer costs and natural gas import prices.
21Experts questioned by Reuters estimated that inflation likely rose 6.7 percent in September.
22That has led the central bank to raise the interest rate to 75 percent, with the possibility of additional increases.
23Poverty rose to over 36 percent of the population in the first half of 2022.
24Extreme poverty rose to 8.8 percent, which represents about 2.6 million people.
25Government assistance programs have helped prevent further poverty rises.
26But some people are calling for more social spending.
27In 2001, during one of Argentina's worst economic crises, Sandra Contreras set up the Lujan Barter Club.
28This idea is now growing in popularity as many Argentines are trading things like old clothes for needed food supplies without using money.
29Contreras told Reuters that many people come to the club "very desperate" because their jobs no longer provide enough money.
30She said, "things are getting worse day by day."
31Contreras noted that some people start lining up two hours before the barter club opens each morning.
32"People have no money left, they need to take something home, so there's no choice but to barter."
33Pablo Lopez is a 26-year-old man who works in a small recycling center.
34He said the effects of rising prices can be seen clearly every day.
35"This inflation is a madness, you can see it here with the people who come to work that inflation hits us all," Lopez said.
36I'm Bryan Lynn.
1Inflation continues to rise to record levels in Argentina. The country faces a possible inflation rate of 100 percent this year. 2As prices rise, some people have turned to waste dumps to seek materials that can be sold for recycling. Others are lining up to trade personal belongings in special groups, or clubs, to earn extra money. 3This year, the South American nation is set to record its sharpest rise in prices since 1990. The rate represents an extreme case although many nations face inflation partly brought on by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 4"My income is no longer enough," said Sergio Omar. The 41-year-old told Reuters he spent 12 hours a day searching through waste at a landfill in Lujan, about 65 kilometers outside the capital Buenos Aires. He looks for cardboard, plastic and metal that he can sell. 5Omar said food costs have increased so much in recent months that it has become hard to feed his family with five children. He said an increasing number of people are coming to the waste dump to find materials they can sell in the struggle to survive. 6"Twice as many people are coming here because there is so much crisis," Omar added. He explained that he could make between $13 and $40 per day selling recyclable waste. 7At the dump, Reuters reporters saw men and women searching for usable clothing and even food. They move through mountains of flowing waste, alongside rats, wild dogs and birds. Gases produced by the breakdown of waste can cause sudden fires. 8One hundred years ago, Argentina was one of the world's richest countries. But in recent years, it has experienced several economic crises and struggled to keep inflation under control. 9Now, prices are rising at the fastest rate since the 1990s. The problems are linked to government deficit spending and a series of price increases by businesses. Existing problems worsened because of worldwide increases in fertilizer costs and natural gas import prices. 10Experts questioned by Reuters estimated that inflation likely rose 6.7 percent in September. That has led the central bank to raise the interest rate to 75 percent, with the possibility of additional increases. 11Poverty rose to over 36 percent of the population in the first half of 2022. Extreme poverty rose to 8.8 percent, which represents about 2.6 million people. Government assistance programs have helped prevent further poverty rises. But some people are calling for more social spending. 12In 2001, during one of Argentina's worst economic crises, Sandra Contreras set up the Lujan Barter Club. This idea is now growing in popularity as many Argentines are trading things like old clothes for needed food supplies without using money. 13Contreras told Reuters that many people come to the club "very desperate" because their jobs no longer provide enough money. She said, "things are getting worse day by day." 14Contreras noted that some people start lining up two hours before the barter club opens each morning. "People have no money left, they need to take something home, so there's no choice but to barter." 15Pablo Lopez is a 26-year-old man who works in a small recycling center. He said the effects of rising prices can be seen clearly every day. "This inflation is a madness, you can see it here with the people who come to work that inflation hits us all," Lopez said. 16I'm Bryan Lynn. 17Reuters reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. 18________________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20recycle - v. to put used paper, glass, plastic, etc. through a process so that it can be used again 21fertilizer - n. a natural or chemical substance you put on land in order to make plants grow well 22barter - v. to exchange goods or services for other goods of services, without using money 23desperate - adj. a feeling that you have no hope left 24_____________________________________________________________________ 25What do you think of this story? We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 26Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.