CDMX Collects Cempasuchil Flowers for Composting, Recycling

Mexico City’s Ministry of Environment (SEDEMA) launched a cempasuchil flower collection campaign to promote recycling and reduce waste generation after the Day of the Dead celebrations.

Residents can bring potted plants, including soil and full flowers, or just petals, stems, and blooms to collection centers at the Xochimilco Ecological Park (PEX) from Nov. 8 to 31, and at the Acuexcomatl, Ecoguardas, and Yautlica Environmental Culture Centers (CCA).

Collected organic material, such as flowers, petals, and stems, will be inspected, shredded, and used as compost in the park’s greenhouse and chinampa areas to enrich the soil. The remaining materials, such as pots and soil, will be reused in environmental education workshops.

Previous collection campaigns have received over 100 cempasuchil pots from companies and local residents who organized to transport the flowers together. Between 2023 and 2024, around 700 pots, along with flowers and petals, were collected.