Regional initiatives promote recycling and upcycling

Various regional initiatives are promoting environmental sustainability through recycling and upcycling. In Venezuela, the “Segunda Mano con Propósito” initiative focuses on giving used clothing new life. Artists are transforming discarded textiles into footwear, bags, and three-dimensional pictorial garments, blending circular fashion with fine arts such as street art and neo-expressionism.

In Ipiales, Colombia, students from the Institución Educativa El Placer are leading efforts to bring waste separation practices from classrooms to households. The program focuses on identifying recoverable materials, such as glass, to prevent them from entering landfills. María de Jesús Ruiz, manager of the public services company Iservi, emphasized that effective waste management requires active participation from citizens, businesses, and educational institutions to support recycling chains.