In a bustling recycling warehouse in Bogotá, Colombia, Sara Samaniego—popularly known as Marce the Recycler—enthralls her audience with energetic videos filmed amidst mountains of plastic, glass, and newspapers. Dressed in her signature blue jumpsuit, the 32-year-old influencer captivates hundreds of thousands of followers across major social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Samaniego's unique approach to recycling has garnered her international acclaim, elevated by collaborations with celebrities and spontaneous fan interactions on city streets. Her vibrant persona and lively content have made recycling not just an environmental necessity but also a trendy activity her audience wants to engage in.
Educating her followers through entertaining videos, Marce the Recycler embodies the spirit of waste separation, teaching fans how to effectively clean and sort their garbage. Additionally, her efforts have significantly highlighted the struggles and significance of informal recyclers in Bogotá—a community essential for waste management in a city that does not have scheduled waste collection services.
In Bogotá, approximately 26,000 informal recyclers work tirelessly to collect and redeem recyclables, allowing the city to maintain some level of ecological balance despite the challenges. Through her work, Samaniego not only champions recycling but also brings much-needed recognition to these often-overlooked contributors in the waste disposal ecosystem.
