Bolivia (BO)
Bolivia is South America's highest and most landlocked country — a plurinational state of dramatic contrasts, from the world's highest navigable lake (Titicaca at 3,812m) and the vast salt flats of Uyuni to the tropical Amazon basin.
Recycling & Waste in Bolivia
Bin system, bottle deposits, special disposal, and common mistakes.
Formal recycling infrastructure in Bolivia is minimal — most municipal waste goes to landfill. A vibrant informal recycling economy (recicladores/clasificadores) is the backbone of material recovery: informal workers collect cardboard, glass, plastic and metals from streets and sell them to centros de acopio (aggregators). Some municipalities run pilot recycling programmes. There is no mandated household waste separation as of 2026. The most effective recycling action is leaving clean recyclables outside your building — recicladores will collect them within hours.
The Bin System
General Waste
Grey or any colour (no national standard)Tacho de basura / Residuos generales
- ✓Food waste and organic materials
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
- ✓Contaminated paper and cardboard
- ✓Sanitary waste (nappies, tissues)
- ✓Ceramics and broken crockery
- ✓Polystyrene (styrofoam)
- ✗Batteries and electronics
- ✗Chemical waste (paint, solvents)
- ✗Medical waste (needles, medicines)
- ✗Motor oil
Recyclables (Informal Separation)
No standard colour — separate container or bagReciclables / Para el reciclador
- ✓Cardboard (flattened) — Bs.0.40–1.00/kg
- ✓Paper and newspapers — Bs.0.30–0.80/kg
- ✓PET plastic bottles (crushed) — Bs.0.50–1.50/kg
- ✓Glass bottles (beer, juice, water) — Bs.0.10–0.30/kg
- ✓Aluminium cans (latas) — Bs.3–5/kg
- ✓Scrap metal — Bs.2–10/kg depending on type
- ✗Contaminated or food-soiled materials
- ✗Mixed materials that cannot be separated
Organic / Composting (Pilot Zones)
Green (where applicable)Residuos orgánicos — zonas piloto
- ✓Fruit and vegetable peelings
- ✓Coffee grounds and tea bags
- ✓Eggshells
- ✓Garden clippings and leaves
- ✗Meat, fish and dairy products
- ✗Cooked food (attracts pests)
- ✗Plastic bags or packaging
- ✗Non-organic materials
Sistema de Retorno de Botellas (Informal) — Bottle Deposit System
Beer bottles (Cervezas Bolivianas brands: Taquiña, Paceña, Huari) operate an informal commercial deposit-return system. Tiendas (corner shops) and market stalls accept empty bottles and refund a small amount. Not a formalised legal deposit scheme but a widely used commercial incentive.
Bs.2–5 per bottle depending on bottle size (350ml vs 620ml). Singani and other spirits bottles have lower or no return value.
Take empty beer bottles to any tienda (corner shop) or market stall that sells that brand. Simply hand over the bottles — staff will count and refund. No receipt required. Bottles must be intact (no chips, cracks).
Special Disposal
Centro de Reciclaje Tecnológico Bolivia (La Paz). UMSA (Universidad Mayor de San Andrés) periodic e-waste drives. Some electronics shops accept old devices on new purchase.
Formal e-waste system is very limited. Do not dispose of batteries or electronics in regular rubbish — both cause environmental and legal risk.
Some electronics shops accept used batteries. Some supermarkets (Hipermaxi pilot). EMALTV La Paz hazardous waste — call +591 2-248-0600 for guidance.
Single-use batteries should not go in regular rubbish. Rechargeable batteries (lithium) are hazardous — take to electronics shops or contact municipality.
Return used motor oil to garages (talleres mecánicos) or some petrol stations (some accept for recycling). Contact EMALTV (La Paz) or EMACRUZ (Santa Cruz) for chemical waste.
Never pour motor oil or solvents down the drain — it is illegal and pollutes water sources.
Dry out completely then dispose in general waste. Do not pour liquid paint down drains or into regular rubbish bins.
Water-based paint: leave lid off to dry before disposal. Oil-based paint: absorb with cat litter or sawdust before disposal.
Return unused medicines to pharmacies (farmacias) — some participate in medicine return schemes. For sharps/needles: use a sealed container and contact local health centre (centro de salud) for disposal.
Do not flush medicines down the toilet. Medical waste regulations are enforced for clinics — residential guidance is limited but best practice is pharmacy return.
Donate to Cáritas Bolivia (caritasbolivia.org), SEDEGES centres, or second-hand ropas americanas markets (Feria 16 de Julio, El Alto; Mercado Lanza, La Paz).
Bolivia has an active second-hand clothing market. Good-condition items have real value — donate rather than discard.
La Paz: contact EMALTV (+591 2-248-0600) for large item collection or arrange private rubbish truck. Santa Cruz: EMACRUZ (+591 3-346-0100). Leaving items on the street on collection day is common — recicladores typically take anything of value.
Furniture, appliances and mattresses are frequently repaired and reused through informal markets. Consider selling via Facebook Marketplace Bolivia before discarding.
Bulk Waste
Contact EMALTV (La Paz) or EMACRUZ (Santa Cruz) for scheduled bulk waste collection. Private waste trucks available for hire (ask neighbours for local contacts or search WhatsApp groups). Large items placed on the kerb on collection day are typically taken by recicladores or informal market traders before the municipal truck arrives.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ! Throwing recyclable bottles and cardboard in general waste — recicladores cannot sort from mixed rubbish
- ! Disposing of batteries in household rubbish — take to electronics shops or pharmacies
- ! Pouring used cooking oil down the drain — collect in a container and ask EMALTV or EMACRUZ for disposal
- ! Burning waste in gardens or on rooftops (common in some areas) — illegal in urban municipalities and harmful at altitude
- ! Leaving rubbish bags on the street outside designated collection times — attracts dogs and creates fines in some areas
Practical Tips
- → The most effective recycling action: leave clean cardboard, bottles and cans at your building gate — recicladores collect within hours
- → Join your neighbourhood WhatsApp group — local reciclador schedules and municipal collection times are shared there
- → Ask your building portero (doorman) which days recicladores pass and when municipal collection comes
- → Carry a fabric tote bag (bolsa de tela) — some La Paz and Santa Cruz markets charge for plastic bags
- → For environmental volunteering: contact Pachamama Raymi (La Paz), CEDAFOR or Cospe Bolivia
- → Follow Alcaldía La Paz (@AlcaldiaLPB) social media for ecopunto locations and recycling pilot updates