The large garbage dump near El Milagro, while claiming to be cutting-edge, verges on environmental disaster. Garbage is dumped wherever there's room and is often burned as a means of making piles smaller. Opportunistic locals, without any other employment opportunities, sort through the rubbish and collect anything that can be sold, like plastics, metals, and circuitboards. The hazards are extremely high.
The large garbage dump near El Milagro, while claiming to be cutting-edge, verges on environmental disaster. Garbage is dumped wherever there's room and is often burned as a means of making piles smaller. Opportunistic locals, without any other employment opportunities, sort through the rubbish and collect anything that can be sold, like plastics, metals, and circuitboards. The hazards are extremely high. This photo was taken out a car window after we were directed by a child garbage collector to leave, warning of illegal Venezuelans who would not take kindly to our presence.
Development along the wetlands between El Brujo and Huanchaco. Development like this is what's destroying the totorales, the wetlands used to grow the totoras, the reeds used to make traditional fishing boats for thousands of years.
