Marce the Recycler is a fictional character created by Sara Samaniego, who has become a recycling icon in Colombia. This character was designed to raise awareness among young people about the importance of recycling and proper waste separation. Additionally, Marce values and acknowledges the hard work of recyclers.
Social media is Marce the Recycler’s main medium to share the daily life of a recycler in Colombia. Thanks to her impact, this character has gained international recognition for her inspiring work. Samaniego experienced one of the most exciting moments of her life on August 15, 2023.
At an event organized by the Youth Assembly, she received the award for “Best Impact Story” for her character “Marce, the Recycler.” For Samaniego, this recognition was more than an award; it was a validation of years of effort and dedication to promoting the importance of recycling through a unique and educational approach. Her success was no coincidence but the result of four years of committed and creative work to inspire young people across Latin America about recycling.
The birth of Marce the Recycler
Sara Samaniego, a journalist from Bogota, had a deep interest in recycling and in tackling the waste problem from a young age. After graduating from university, she decided to contribute to solving this issue in her country but wanted to do so in a different way. This led to the creation of Marce, a charismatic character who would appear on social media to discuss recycling in an accessible and engaging manner.
@marcelarecicladora ¡¡Marce, auxilio! ¡Necesito que me enseñes a reciclar!! 🚨 ♻️ Mis reciclamores, mensajes como este me llegan todos los días, por eso hoy les traigo mi Guía Básica de Reciclaje versión 2025. 🙌🏽💚 ¿Listos pa ponerse manos a la obra? ✨ Solo necesitan las ganas de hacerlo bien, una botella plástica grande para la botellita de amor y las bolsas de los 3 colores de @Task Colombia 🤍 Blanca: para residuos aprovechables (plástico, vidrio, metales, papel y cartón). 🖤 Negra: para residuos no aprovechables (papel higiénico, servilletas y desechos contaminados con comida). 💚 Verde: para residuos orgánicos (cáscaras y desechos de jardín). Por si no lo sabían, esta medida de separar en bolsas de estos 3 colores es relativamente nueva. La Resolución 2184 de 2019 empezó a implementarse en Colombia el 1 de enero de 2021, así que puede que muchas personas aún no estén tan familiarizadas con estos códigos de color. 🙄 Con esta medida se busca evitar que toneladas de residuos sigan llegando a los rellenos sanitarios. Así que me encanta apoyar a empresas como Task, que venden el kit completo para que hacer la separación en la casa sea mucho más fácil. Además, otra cosa muy bacana de ellos es que sus bolsas están hechas a partir de plástico reciclado y reciclable. 🌱♻️ Ahora que ya saben todo esto, tomen nota y ayúdenme a compartir este video. 🥰 #marcelareciladora #tipsdereciclaje #reciclajeencolombia ♬ sonido original – marcelarecicladora
Initially, Samaniego sought someone to portray Marce, but none of the actors who auditioned captured the essence she desired. Fearing that the character might be misinterpreted, a friend suggested she play Marce herself. On May 13, 2019, Sara Samaniego made her debut on YouTube as Marce the Recycler, dressed in a blue overalls, two braids, and a backward cap. From that moment, the character captured the attention of young people and adults throughout the country.
Transforming recycling into a social cause
Marce the Recycler quickly drew the attention of thousands of followers on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. But for Samaniego, being a recycling “influencer” meant more than creating social media content. In 2020, with the pandemic severely affecting recyclers’ families, she decided to establish the non-profit organization Reciclando Amor (Recycling Love). This initiative aimed not only to promote recycling but also to support recycling families who face discrimination and difficult working conditions.
@marcelarecicladora Reciclamores 💚 si me ven haciendo un video en un contenedor de residuos en México, déjenme ahí. Ahí es justo donde quiero estar! ¡Imagínense que @Residuos Expo me invitó a la Feria de residuos en Ciudad de México! 🇲🇽 Este año fue del 25 al 27 de marzo del 2025 y así como todos los años, tiene el propósito de reunir a muchas empresas para la gestión de sus residuos. Todo, con el objetivo de buscar un manejo correcto de los desechos que diariamente se van generando. 🗓️ Es una cosa ¡Re espectacular! 🛞😍 Después de ocho años, sigue siendo un gran referente de negocios, actualización y networking en el sector. ¡MARAVILLOSO! 💙 Cuénteme ¿Sabían de la existencia de esta feria?🧡♻️ Los quiero mucho. 💚 #marcelarecicladora #residuosexpo #mexico #economíacircular ♬ sonido original – marcelarecicladora
Through this foundation, Samaniego has led initiatives like delivering food supplies and providing health support, as well as organizing unforgettable experiences for recycling families, such as their first-ever trips to see the ocean. Marce has traveled across Colombia promoting the cleanup of rivers, beaches, and natural parks, educating communities about the importance of recycling.
Educating new generations in Colombia
In addition to her social media videos, Marce the Recycler gives talks at schools, where she presents recyclers as “superheroes” who perform essential yet undervalued work in society. This approach has resonated with children, who, inspired by Marce, begin to see recycling as an admirable and essential task for protecting the planet. As a result, many young people have shared with her their dreams of becoming recyclers when they grow up. For Samaniego, this response represents the true impact of her work.
Through Marce, she not only teaches her followers how to recycle correctly but also reveals the reality of these everyday heroes who, as she says in her talks, “are saving the planet.” In her visits to recycling warehouses and centers in Bogotá, she has seen firsthand the effort of those who collect and sort materials to give them a second life—a crucial task in a country where only 17% of waste is recycled.