La Manzanilla Message Board: Curbside recycling in La Manzanilla

Many Mexican residents have told me that someone earns income by separating recyclables at the landfill, including #1 and #2 plastics (soft drink & milk containers). To make their work easier, I remove the caps, crush the plastic, and save it in pilas (plastic mesh bags in which tiendas receive products, such as limes and oranges). My neighborhood store usually has spare pilas. I tie up a full bag and place it on the curb next to my garbage can.

The garbage collectors separate more valuable recyclables such as aluminum and tin cans. So, I do the same thing with those rinsed materials (separated by material).

I also do this for beer bottle caps, which are tin (alas, an all-too-often thing I encounter on litter patrol). The garbage collectors do not separate these because it is too time consuming. I imagine it is also too time consuming for the people who separate recyclables at the landfill.

Works for me, so thought I would share the idea.