Argentine recycler addresses Pope Leo XIV on workers' dignity

Verónica San Martín, president of the Recicladores Unidos cooperative, shared her testimony before Pope Leo XIV during the World of Work Encounter at the Catholic University of Argentina. San Martín, a 45-year-old mother of four from Ensenada, recounted her journey from losing her job and fleeing domestic violence to working as an urban recycler to provide for her children.

She highlighted the discrimination faced by recyclers, noting that they are often treated like criminals. San Martín emphasized that her community is organized through the Recicladores Unidos cooperative, which includes over 200 workers from La Plata, Berisso, and Ensenada. The organization also supports individuals recovering from addiction and those reintegrating after prison.

During her address, San Martín stated, “Los cartoneros no somos basura: somos trabajadores, tenemos dignidad y con nuestro trabajo cuidamos la Casa Común” (We recyclers are not trash: we are workers, we have dignity, and with our work we care for our Common Home). Her message focused on the importance of collective organization to formalize marginalized labor and combat the “culture of discard” through solidarity.