Parra, Federico and Olga Abizaid. 2022. Formalization as Public Service Providers: Achievements and Obstacles for Colombia’s Waste Pickers. WIEGO Technical Brief No. 12. Manchester, UK: WIEGO
The recognition and remuneration of Colombia's waste pickers as providers of public waste management services - the result of a 30-year struggle by the Asociación de Recicladores de Bogotá (ARB) and the Asociación Nacional de Recicladores (ANR) - has led to improvements in their lives and livelihoods. However, this process is not yet complete and still a far cry from complying with the Constitutional Court's rulings. This technical brief provides an analysis of the process that led to this recognition - including the voice of waste pickers - in order to take stock of what has been achieved so far and the challenges that remain and to define strategic priorities and a way forward to ensure that this recognition is achieved.
This technical brief is also available in Spanish.