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Bolivian recyclers gain official certification for their trade
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Culture & Society

Bolivian recyclers gain official certification for their trade

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Nearly thirty people in La Paz, Bolivia, mostly women, received certification as basic technicians in recyclable material collection.
  • The training, lasting over three months, covered waste separation and classification.
  • The certification recognizes their experience and aims to improve their economic situation and environmental contribution.

In La Paz, Bolivia, nearly thirty individuals, predominantly women, have achieved a significant milestone by receiving certification as basic technicians in the collection of recyclable materials. This recognition validates their years of experience in waste collection and processing, marking a formal acknowledgment of their vital role in the community and environment.

It has been an achievement for us who are recyclers, and with this, we can do many things because we are now recognized by an authority.

— Victoria LimachiOne of the certified recyclers expressing the significance of the training.

The certification ceremony, held at the Spanish Embassy in Bolivia, was attended by Ambassador Fernando García Casas, La Paz Mayor César Dockweiler, and representatives from the Ministry of Education and the Vice-Ministry of Equality of Opportunities. The training program, spanning over three months and divided into five modules, focused on the crucial aspects of waste separation and classification. Participants from the EcoWarmis and Recicladoras en Acción groups successfully completed the course.

Recycling clothes, paper, cardboard, plastics, and glass containers is very beneficial for our (family) economy and for the environment.

— Leonarda ChávezA 74-year-old recycler highlighting the dual benefits of her profession.

Victoria Limachi, one of the newly certified technicians, expressed her gratitude, stating that the certification is a "great achievement" that provides official recognition for recyclers. Leonarda Chávez, a 74-year-old who has been in the profession for over three decades, highlighted the dual benefit of recycling: its positive impact on family economies and the environment. She emphasized that this formal training elevates their status from "empirical recyclers" to certified professionals.

We are no longer empirical recyclers, but we have a title... we are an important factor for environmental protection.

— Carla ChávezThe president of Recicladoras en Acción emphasizing the professionalization of their work.

Carla Chávez, president of Recicladoras en Acción, explained that many women in this profession inherited it from their mothers and grandmothers, often turning to recycling as a means of supporting their children after experiencing domestic violence. The program, part of a non-formal education model, aims to provide opportunities for individuals who may not have had access to traditional schooling or professional training. Officials indicated that the Ministry of Education plans to continue this training, potentially leading to a "technical middle" level certification, further strengthening the recyclers' organizations.

recognize the work of collectors because they promote recycling, often in difficult conditions.

— Fernando GarcíaThe Spanish Ambassador to Bolivia acknowledging the efforts of the recyclers.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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