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According to the UN, one of the four main problems standing in the way of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is the growing amount of waste. A Word Bank study has shown that waste management currently accounts for about 1.6 billion tons of climate-damaging greenhouse gases. Without improvement measures, these numbers are expected to increase even further. But ‘recicladores’ all around Colombia are trying to make a difference. Swisscontact works with public and private partners to improve the working conditions of these informal waste pickers.
Throughout Colombia, recicladores are making their mark on cityscapes. Nationwide, there are an estimated 100 000 waste pickers, but not all are identified because not all are formally registered. In fact, only 10% are organised, while the rest do undeclared work in marginalised and precarious jobs.
Despite the stigma of being labelled as ‘dirty underdogs’ throughout South America, recicladores play a crucial role in the recycling process and their absence would lead to a collapse in the recycling process, as formal systems alone cannot cope with the overwhelming volume of waste.
Municipalities frequently struggle with the proper disposal and recycling of waste, a critical issue given its implications. Pollution from unprocessed materials poses a significant threat to biodiversity, human health, and vital economic sectors. Moreover, the financial burden of inadequate waste management is substantial, underscoring the essential service provided by recicladores in mitigating these challenges.
Adopting a circular economy could provide a solution to waste management issues. This model envisions a system where materials are perpetually repurposed, thus preventing them from becoming waste and contributing to the regeneration of natural ecosystems. The goal is to revolutionise the waste sector, transitioning it from mere disposal to a sustainable resource-based economy. This shift not only safeguards the environment but also fosters job creation.
At the heart of this circular economy are the recicladores, who serve as the driving force at the grassroots level, propelling the movement towards sustainability.
The city of Cali in southwest Colombia is a good example of how there are opportunities for waste picker cooperatives. The city produces around 1 922 tons of waste per day, with only a small percentage recycled, even though it is technically possible to recycle much more.
Nicolás Sarriá is working to change this with his family-run business Circular Economy in Carvajal Industries, where he employs more than 17 000 people across different countries and sectors. One significant challenge he faces is the disconnect between various stakeholders, which is why he emphasises the importance of understanding the entire value chain. “It’s crucial for waste pickers and their associations to understand that they are an integral part of a larger ecosystem, and not a standalone process”, he says, “It’s not just about our economy, it’s about building a shared community.”
With her organisation, Irene Ramirez is trying to build this community. Irene Ramirez is a former waste picker who developed her skills over the years with various training. Today, she runs the recycling company REMA, working with private companies and local authorities.
The company was created in 2009 and employs 400 people, who are paid monthly and expected to participate in training. The recicladores are paid according to the weight and the quality of the waste they collect. Their salary however has drastically changed in the last years.
As recycling is a subsistence job and an independent activity that requires more flexibility, it is well-suited to women with small children - and it is these women who are most burdened by this drastic price decrease. Despite more female recicladores, men are still the decision-makers in the recycling business.
For Ramirez, it was not easy to work in a profession where men were the ones in charge. She often stood in front of influential businessmen to defend the rights of her fellow women. She did not study law, so she memorised the regulations required – and so changed the men’s opinions.
Through the Circular Cities project in Colombia and Bolivia, Swisscontact contributes to improved living conditions of waste pickers and their families by introducing formal structures.
For Irene Ramirez, formalising the cooperative has been key to changing the lives of many recicladores. “Being organised means economic income and social recognition”, she says. “By formalising ourselves, we were able to ask the municipality to recognise us as workers.”
While conditions have improved for many of those committed to recycling, the challenge for many others remains the same: survival amidst the great dilemma of urban waste.
The Circular Cities Project is financed by the City of Zurich and implemented by Swisscontact in Colombia and Bolivia.
