Fact Check: Colombian waste pickers dumped 15 tons of plastic bottles in protest.

Fact Check: "Colombian waste pickers dumped 15 tons of plastic bottles in protest."

What We Know

On June 24, 2025, dozens of Colombian waste pickers protested in Bogota's iconic Plaza de Bolivar by dumping approximately 15 tons of plastic bottles. This demonstration was organized by 14 waste picker associations in response to decreasing wages and challenging working conditions. The protest highlighted the plight of around 20,000 waste pickers in Bogota, who collect recyclable materials from various sources and sell them to local recycling plants. The president of Colombia’s National Association of Waste Pickers, Nohra Padilla, emphasized the need for fair compensation, stating, “We want factories to pay us a fair price for the materials we collect” (AP News).

The protest was characterized by waste pickers lying among the plastic bottles and some even pretending to swim in the mounds of trash, symbolizing their struggle against falling prices for recyclable materials. Reports indicate that the price for plastic has dropped significantly, from about 75 cents to 50 cents per kilogram, affecting the income of waste pickers who often earn less than the national minimum wage (US News).

Analysis

The claim that Colombian waste pickers dumped 15 tons of plastic bottles in protest is supported by multiple credible sources. The Associated Press reported on the event, detailing the actions of the waste pickers and the context surrounding their protest, including the economic pressures they face due to fluctuating prices for recyclables and competition from other scavengers (AP News).

Additionally, other outlets, such as US News and ABC News, corroborated the details of the protest, confirming the volume of plastic bottles involved and the reasons behind the demonstration (US News, ABC News). The consistency across these reports lends credibility to the claim.

The sources utilized are reputable news organizations known for their journalistic standards. The Associated Press, in particular, is a well-established news agency with a long history of reliable reporting. The information provided is not only consistent but also reflects the broader socio-economic challenges faced by waste pickers in Colombia, thus reinforcing the validity of the claim.

Conclusion

The claim that Colombian waste pickers dumped 15 tons of plastic bottles in protest is True. The evidence from multiple credible news sources confirms the occurrence of the protest, the amount of plastic involved, and the motivations behind it. The protest serves as a significant indicator of the struggles faced by waste pickers in Colombia, who are advocating for better wages and working conditions.