Recyclers fill Bogota's mains square with plastic bottles to demand decent work

Colombian recyclers filled Bogota's iconic Plaza de Bolivar with plastic bottles, demanding better work conditions from the national government and city authorities. Bogota, home to 8 million people, lacks a public selective waste collection service, leaving nearly 26,000 recyclers to do the work.

The demonstration seekes to highlight the harsh realities faced by recyclers and calls on President Gustavo Petro's administration and local officials to take urgent action. "Many recyclers in Colombia work more than 15 hours a day recovering and sorting materials. Yet their earnings don't even reach the minimum wage," said, president of the National Recyclers Association.