Recycled cola bottles unpaid worker picked up outside (8)
I believe the answer is:
alfresco
'outside' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'recycled cola bottles unpaid worker picked up' is the wordplay.
'recycled' indicates anagramming the letters.
'bottles' is an insertion indicator (bottle can mean to contain).
'unpaid worker' becomes 'serf' (serf is a kind of worker. I am not sure about the 'unpaid' bit.).
'picked up' is a reversal indicator.
'serf' in reverse letter order is 'fres'.
'cola' with letters rearranged gives 'alco'.
'alco' enclosing 'fres' is 'ALFRESCO'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for alfresco that I've seen before include "Out of doors" , "In the open air" , "Outdoors, meal perhaps" , "exposed to the fresh air" , "Located outdoors" .)