"Regulation Commission fails to comply with the tariff update": say affected recyclers

The Commission for the Regulation of Drinking Water and Basic Sanitation (CRA) is five years late in updating the tariff framework that regulates the water use service in Colombia.

This delay directly affects professional recyclers, who, according to Magda Barinas, union leader, do not see their work reflected in the current rates, which compromises their income and rights acquired by court order.

“The exercise of updating resolution seven 20, which is the Tariff Framework of use, that resolution has to be updated every 15 years, resolution seven 20 is from December 2015, that is, it is already five years past, and it would be assumed that there would have to be an update in 2020,” Barinas added.

Resolution 720, issued in 2015, should have been updated in 2020but it has not yet been reviewed. Barinas points out that this regulation is essential, since it includes economic recognition for the recovery activity carried out by recyclers. Without updating it, the real costs of the service are not adjusted, leaving recyclers at a disadvantage.

You may be interested in: Gustavo Petro asks the director of Dian, Jairo Orlando Villabona, to resign

Despite this non-compliance, the Ministry of Housing moved forward with the approval of decree 1381 of 2024, which grants exclusivity to recyclers in the provision of the public recycling service. Nelly Mogollón Montañez, executive director of the CRA, assured that 80% of the technical studies necessary for the new tariff framework are already ready and that the process is expected to be completed in June of this year. However, this delay continues to affect recyclers, who urge an immediate solution.

Also read: Colonel Carlos Feria will leave his position as head of security for President Gustavo Petro

The Vice Minister of Water and Basic Sanitation, Edwar Libreros, highlighted that the decree seeks to guarantee better income and working conditions for recyclers. “We are working together with the CRA on the new tariff frameworks so that the recycling population has differential treatment, without this affecting users,” he stated.

Finally, the union of recyclers insists that the delays of the CRA hinder the effective implementation of decree 1381. In addition, they request that the regulation of differential and surveillance mechanisms be accelerated by the Superintendence of Public Services, as well as inter-ministerial schemes to improve their living conditions.