Sara Samaniego is a Colombian communicator and journalist trained at Universidad Javeriana, but she is also known as “La Marce,” a recycling-influencer who has transformed the field through her impact. With her signature blue outfit, braids, and caps, Samaniego adopted the role of a recycler to raise awareness and support workers in the sector.
Born in Bogotá, she founded Reciclamor, an initiative that highlights the behind-the-scenes reality of recycling workers. She has thousands of fans on social media, is an environmental activist, and also an actress. Her most recent on-screen appearance was in Animals in Danger of Extinction, a Greenpeace-backed series hosted by Natalia Oreiro that exposes the crisis affecting species across Latin America.
Since 2019, Samaniego has embraced social media and recycling as a mission. Today she is a prominent figure, has received multiple environmental awards, and alternates between her real self and her online persona, La Marce. Known as “the recycling influencer,” she identified the lack of an effective public recycling service in Colombia and responded by producing thousands of videos in local stores and neighborhoods to humanize the work of recyclers.
Reciclando Amor came to an end
Samaniego created the nonprofit organization Reciclando Amor, which provided sanitary assistance and support to various community groups. Her work allowed her to travel to several countries. The organization dissolved in 2025, but on social media she explained that it had completed a cycle, giving way to Reciclamores, a new community project aiming to continue the same mission through more effective and socially conscious recycling practices.
The foundation reflects the broad positive impact La Marce has had since the 2020 pandemic, when she raised funds to donate food and provide sanitary support. Beyond her digital presence, she continues to inspire young people and elevate the work of recyclers.
La Marce: how she made recycling appealing
Over the years, La Marce evolved into a character designed to generate connection with the audience. Her personality, joy, and crafted role helped her relate to recyclers. Using the power of social media, Samaniego sought to humanize workers often judged negatively. Through her outreach, recyclers have been presented as “heroes” contributing positively to their communities.
She has collaborated with Colombian schools, inviting recyclers to share their experiences and encourage students to participate in sustainability efforts. Many workers have expressed gratitude and pride for her advocacy. The character emerged from a university project focused on waste management. Since then, La Marce has become a prize-winning digital persona, recognized internationally —including by the Youth Assembly in New York— for her social impact.
Activist, influencer, and actress
Acting, social media, and activism intersect in Samaniego’s work. As an influencer, she has built a strong personal brand through La Marce and uses her visibility to speak against climate change and promote recycling. Through acting, she appears in environmental productions aimed at protecting species and ecosystems. A key example is the Flow docuseries Animals in Danger of Extinction, launched in November 2025 by Greenpeace, where Samaniego is part of the cast of influencer-actors who travel through Latin America to expose wildlife threats.
La Marce is a fictional persona created by Samaniego, fully embedded in the recycling world. Through digital platforms, she connects audiences with the daily realities of recycling workers, motivating social awareness and inspiring action within Colombian communities.
