In a large warehouse filled with towering piles of plastics, glass, and newspapers, Sara Samaniego engages her audience by lip-syncing to upbeat rap tunes while clad in her signature blue jumpsuit and braided hair. The 32-year-old influencer, with a strong presence across popular platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, has won various international accolades and frequently finds herself approached for photographs by fans in public spaces.
Her claim to fame? Making recycling appealing and accessible. Embracing a lively aesthetic and an infectious personality, Samaniego has introduced herself as Latin America’s pioneering recycling influencer. Through her energetic character, Marce the Recycler, she educates her audience in Bogotá on the importance of properly cleaning and sorting waste, converting a mundane task into an engaging activity.
Samaniego’s innovative approach not only promotes responsible waste management but also brings attention to the vital role of informal recyclers within Bogotá's waste disposal system. The city, lacking structured governmental waste collection services, relies heavily on approximately 26,000 informal recyclers who navigate the streets to gather reusable materials, as explained by Consuelo Ordóñez, the director of Bogotá’s public utilities authority.
By utilizing her platform, Samaniego amplifies the efforts of these often-overlooked workers, celebrating their contributions to the community and educating residents on the significance of recycling in their daily lives.
