What does the author mean by saying, Garbage to them is gold?

When the author says, “Garbage to them is gold,” she highlights how garbage dumps, despite their filth and degradation, are viewed as valuable resources by impoverished children like Saheb. For them, scavenging represents a source of livelihood and the faint hope of discovering something that can bring momentary relief or even small joy. This metaphor underscores the irony of their situation, as children find worth in what society discards, reflecting the deep-rooted inequalities that force them to seek survival in waste.