State of Mexico to Install 50 Recycling Machines

The State of Mexico’s Ministry of the Environment will install 50 recycling machines in government buildings as part of a strategy to reduce waste generation and promote recycling. The initiative, led by Alhely Rubio, Minister of Environment, aims to incentivize public participation by offering benefits at various businesses in exchange for recyclable materials.

The machines will allow the public to exchange waste, such as PET, cardboard, glass, and other reusable materials, for discounts on movie tickets and other rewards. "I expect this to be implemented in the first quarter of the year, or by April or May at the latest. We will have these zero-waste machines in operation in Texcoco," Rubio stated.

The program seeks to significantly reduce the volume of waste ending up in landfills by ensuring materials are properly processed and reintegrated into recycling markets. "It is not just about preventing waste from reaching landfills but about giving it a new economic value," she explained.

Initially, the machines will be installed in government buildings, as well as in major cities. However, the long-term goal is to expand the infrastructure to all 125 municipalities in the state. The state government will also assess the feasibility of expanding the project based on collection capacity and available infrastructure in each region.

Alongside the recycling initiative, the ministry will launch an educational program called Green Adventures. This initiative includes the distribution of seven educational booklets designed to promote environmental awareness among children and young people. To ensure access to these materials, the agency is collaborating with the state’s Ministry of Education to distribute the materials digitally across all schools in the state.

"We want a real change in how we manage waste and in the environmental education of our children and young people. These strategies are just the beginning of a deeper transformation in Mexico State," Rubio concluded.