CARE Project Report Maps Colombia’s Aluminium Recycling Chain

27 January 2026

As part of the CARE Project, ASI and partners have launched a new mapping report on the post-consumer aluminium value chain in Colombia. The study examines the material flows, trade dynamics, and stakeholder relationships that shape aluminium recycling, particularly focusing on the contribution of waste pickers in Bogotá and Barranquilla. The findings reveal a dynamic but fragmented system, with strong collection capacity but limited traceability and almost no national reprocessing.

Key takeaways include:

• Waste pickers are central to aluminium recovery, collecting an estimated 71% of material from used beverage cans (UBCs), yet face barriers linked to informality, limited logistics and lack of equipment.
• Most of the material is exported for recycling, reflecting the absence of national transformation capacity.
• Traceability remains weak, with no mechanism to account for exported material under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes.
• Exporters operate efficiently but face price volatility, limited visibility over end uses, and inconsistent standards.
• Can manufacturers and brands express interest in circularity, but currently operate in isolation from the local recycling system.

The report outlines concrete recommendations for strengthening national circularity, including traceability protocols, technical standards, improved equipment access, and stronger alliances between waste pickers, exporters and brands.

Alongside the full report, a summary infographic is available to visualise key actors, barriers and opportunities across the chain. These materials contribute to a growing body of evidence on how informal sector inclusion and better system coordination can improve circular and social outcomes.

Explore the full study and recommendations, which document current practices and highlight opportunities to strengthen inclusivity and resilience in aluminium recycling.

Download the report

This report maps Colombia’s post-consumer aluminium scrap value chain, examining the role of waste pickers, traceability challenges and opportunities to strengthen a more inclusive and circular system.
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Explore the infographic

RELATED TOPICS:

chain of custodyCircularityhuman rights

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