Recycling is still uneven in Colombia, so travelers should not assume the same level of sorting or curbside collection they may be used to at home; in many places, waste is simply separated into basic categories only if the building, hotel, or neighborhood has a system in place. In larger cities you may see informal waste pickers, called
recicladores, collecting cardboard, plastic, and metal, and it is normal to hand over clean recyclables separately when a bin or collection point is available.