Waste not want not: Santiago's poorest district plants recycling seed

Municipal staff collecting organic material, which will be sent for a vermiculture recycling process, in the commune of La Pintana. Photos: Javier Torres/AFP

Every morning, trucks collect potato and avocado skins, orange peels and other food scraps that residents of Santiago's poorest neighbourhood leave hanging in bags on their front doors or in tree branches or place in special bins.

For nearly two decades, the residents of La Pintana have been pioneers of recycling in Chile – South America's largest garbage generator.