Mexico City Moves To A Greener System

Mexico City is home to a lot of people and a whole lot of trash. In fact, about 12,500 tons of garbage are produced daily. In the past, nearly all that trash was dumped at the landfill without many recycling efforts, but the city is putting on a new face and trying to green it’s system.

Part of the plan includes a newly formed Waste Commission that is working to build several processing centers which will recycle, burn or compost 85 percent of the city’s trash (only about 6 percent is recycled today). Breaking it down:

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  The most populated city in the country, Mexico City must improve recycling or close its rapidly filling dump. - Destination360.com

  20 percent of the garbage will be recycled

• 20 percent composted
• 45 percent burned for energy that will power the city subway and light homes

The processing centers are expected to be completed by 2012.

Much of the green push comes from mayor Marcelo Ebrard.  “If we make it greener, the city will be able to survive,” he told News24. Ebrard’s green plan also focuses on reduced water consumption and the creation of bike lanes and solar-powered buildings.

Another individual very involved in the green effort is Waste Commission Director Fernando Menendez. He is hopeful about the new recycling program and believes residents of the city will eventually become accustomed to sorting their trash, despite the doubts of critics.

Menendez had great success with a recent environmental project focusing on decreasing the amount of cars driven in the city.  Today, the “Hoy No Circula” (the equivalent of “One Day Without a Car”) campaign keeps at least 1.6 million cars per week off the road.