La producción de escombros en la  política de relocalización de la cuenca  Matanza-Riachuelo, Argentina

This article explores debris generation in the relocation of residents from streamside settlements in Almirante Brown, a municipality in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, within the framework of the Matanza-Riachuelo Basin sanitation policy. It argues that traditional analyses of relocation processes tend to prioritize the newly created spaces and the disputes of the pre-relocation phase, while largely neglecting the destruction of existing spaces. In the process, other crucial aspects of these relocations are often overlooked—particularly those tied to the daily lives of families and their emotional connections to the place. This study is guided by the following questions: What meanings emerge around debris generation during relocation? What do the remnants represent for different individuals? What significance do they hold within the broader framework of this relocation policy? And how can examining this phase of destruction contribute to relocation studies? To explore these questions, the research draws on narratives and testimonies from ethnographic fieldwork conducted since 2019. This includes in-depth interviews with those affected by the relocations, direct engagement with the everyday implementation of relocation measures, and documentary analysis of relevant materials. The findings are organized around five key dimensions of debris: (i) as remnants of self-built habitats; (ii) as barriers to new occupations; (iii) as a tool for exerting pressure; (iv) as a resource for those who remain unrelocated; and (v) as an element of the post-relocation landscape. Across both pessimistic and optimistic accounts, debris represents a sudden, unevenly distributed transformation—one that intertwines subsistence networks, social relationships, and emotional bonds to the place.