How many are there? Where are they? What size do they have? How much waste do they accumulate? The People’s Defender seeks to answer these questions with the first mapping of open-air dumps throughout the Argentine territory. The initiative has been publicly launched, so that citizens can report the existence of dumps in their localities.
Open-air dumps constitute one of the main threats to public health because, for the most part, they do not have environmental protection measures. In practice, these sites turn out to be centers where solid waste accumulates indiscriminately.
The National Environment Secretariat estimates that – based on a study conducted in 2017 – there are around 5000 dumps of this type in Argentina, that is, at least two per municipality. In many cases, these spaces are formalized, so they are the official methods applied by local governments to dispose of garbage. According to the aforementioned study, dumps in Argentina cover 8600 hectares, an area that almost equals half of the City of Buenos Aires.
“Dumps are sites that were chosen for historical reasons, sometimes simply because they were far from urban and residential areas. However, with development, some ended up closer to populated areas,” explained Pablo Schamber, a researcher at the National University of Quilmes to Chequeado.
These collection centers do not have impermeabilized soil, quickly becoming sources of contamination. The impact affects the life cycles of plants, and can also lead to the proliferation of pests and disease vectors. If they are incinerated, intentionally or spontaneously, they result in the emission of toxic substances.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), dumps generate between 3% and 5% of the greenhouse gases associated with climate change.
Dumps are infectious hotspots
Likewise, the decomposition of waste generates liquids that can seep into underground aquifers and contaminate water. “It is one of the most serious consequences. In the event that there is a nearby population that consumes well water, they end up drinking contaminated water,” said Giselle Munno, from the Environment and Natural Resources Foundation (FARN).
This is the case of the Luján dump (Buenos Aires Province), also known as La Quema, considered the largest open dump in Argentina due to its 12 hectares in size. In this space, 120 tons of waste are deposited daily.
A recent judicial expert report revealed the strong presence of toxic substances such as ammonia, benzene, and copper in the water, soil, and air of the site. The chemists conducting the investigation conclude that, due to their high concentrations, the persistence of these dangerous residues in the environment “could extend for decades.”
Currently, the Luján dump is undergoing a closure and conversion process into an Environmental Center, which would be named Laudato SÃ, in homage to Pope Francis’ document calling for the care of the planet.
Another socioeconomic aspect is that these collection centers also function as a source of employment for thousands of recyclers and collectors, many of whom are exposed to risks due to the lack of biosafety measures.
A 2023 study, conducted by the then Ministry of Social Development, estimated that around 150,000 people are linked to urban solid waste management.
Citizen participation in mapping
The Mapping promoted by the People’s Defender aims to identify and locate each of the open-air dumps scattered throughout the country. To do this, they have made available this form where any citizen can report the existence of a dump in their neighborhood, district, or city.
The Defender’s Office states that with the accumulated data, they will seek to design and implement better public policies for the environment. It should be noted that the data of each informant will remain confidential.
