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Formalization as Public Service Providers: Achievements and Obstacles for Colombia’s Waste Pickers

By , on October 12, 2021

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.

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Citation Information

Parra, Federico, and Abizaid, Olga. Formalization as Public Service Providers: Achievements and Obstacles for Colombia’s Waste Pickers. WIEGO Technical Brief No. 12, , . WIEGO, 2021. https://www.wiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/technical-brief-12-2021-ENG_0.pdfParra, F., and Abizaid, O. (2021). Formalization as Public Service Providers: Achievements and Obstacles for Colombia’s Waste Pickers. WIEGO Technical Brief No. 12, , . https://www.wiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/technical-brief-12-2021-ENG_0.pdfParra, Federico, and Abizaid, Olga. "Formalization as Public Service Providers: Achievements and Obstacles for Colombia’s Waste Pickers." WIEGO Technical Brief No. 12, WIEGO, 2021, .Parra Federico, and Abizaid Olga. "Formalization as Public Service Providers: Achievements and Obstacles for Colombia’s Waste Pickers." WIEGO Technical Brief No. 12 (2021). https://www.wiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/technical-brief-12-2021-ENG_0.pdfParra, F, and Abizaid, O 2021, 'Formalization as Public Service Providers: Achievements and Obstacles for Colombia’s Waste Pickers', WIEGO Technical Brief No. 12, , . https://www.wiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/technical-brief-12-2021-ENG_0.pdfFederico Parra, and Olga Abizaid, 'Formalization as Public Service Providers: Achievements and Obstacles for Colombia’s Waste Pickers' (2021) WIEGO Technical Brief No. 12 Parra F., and Abizaid O. Formalization as Public Service Providers: Achievements and Obstacles for Colombia’s Waste Pickers. WIEGO Technical Brief No. 12. 2021. https://www.wiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/technical-brief-12-2021-ENG_0.pdfParra, Federico, and Abizaid, Olga. Formalization as Public Service Providers: Achievements and Obstacles for Colombia’s Waste Pickers. WIEGO Technical Brief No. 12. 2021. , . https://www.wiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/technical-brief-12-2021-ENG_0.pdf

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