The municipal government of Libertador, which covers two-thirds of the Venezuelan capital, is taking in debris and solid waste and handing out food in the poor southwestern neighborhoods, inspired by similar programs in the Brazilian city of Curitiba. “In the first community, we invested 700 dollars in food, and we collected 15 tons of waste,” said program director Manuel Molina.

“Once we have been through four districts, we'll assess the program and will launch it for a one-year period. The aim is to clean up 300 dump sites in 187 ravines and eliminate 40 percent of the solid waste that is contaminating the city,” he said.

Residents can swap five kilograms of cardboard or paper for a kilo of salt; two kilos of aluminum for a liter of milk; and for 25 kilos of scrap metal or 10 kilos of clothing, a kilo of rice or of corn flour.