State of Mexico Launches ElectroRecicla E-Waste Collection Drive

The government of the State of Mexico has launched a new electronic waste collection drive under its “ElectroRecicla” campaign in the municipality of Amanalco, where 3.5 t of electronic and electrical waste were collected in a single day. Led by the state’s Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, the program exchanges basic household goods for obsolete devices to encourage participation and reduce environmental risks linked to improper disposal.

State of Mexico Environment Minister Alhely Rubio Arronis said the initiative promotes responsible environmental practices while preventing soil, water, and air contamination caused by hazardous materials commonly found in electronic waste. Items collected during the Amanalco event included computers, laptops, tablets, monitors, printers, keyboards, mobile phones, chargers, televisions, routers, small household appliances, radios, video cameras, video game consoles, speakers, and alkaline batteries.

Since its launch in 2025, ElectroRecicla has collected more than 12.5 t of electronic waste statewide, according to the Secretariat. The materials are transferred to the Mexican Association of Electrical and Electronic Recyclers, where they are sorted under international classifications. Recoverable components are dismantled and recycled as raw materials, while non-recoverable waste is sent to authorized final disposal sites.

Additional collection events are scheduled for Feb. 18 and 19 at the Secretariat’s offices in Tlalnepantla, reflecting the state’s efforts to expand participation and improve the management of these materials.

The State of Mexico initiative comes amid rising electronic waste generation and persistently low recycling rates, as highlighted by a recent study by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Globally, China generates the largest volume of electronic waste, followed by the United States and India. Mexico produces approximately 1.5 billion kg of electronic waste annually, ranking 10th worldwide and third in the Americas.

According to Heberto Ferreira, researcher, UNAM’s Institute of Ecosystems and Sustainability Research in Morelia, e-waste is growing at a rate nearly five times faster than official recycling. “Each Mexican generates about 12 kg of e-waste a year. Multiply that by 130 million people, and we are producing an estimated 1.5 Mt, enough to fill five to six Azteca Stadiums,” Ferreira said.

Despite rising volumes, only 22.3% of global e-waste is properly recycled, meaning roughly two out of every 10 devices are handled in an environmentally sound manner, while the remainder often ends up at sites that contaminate land and water. In Mexico, regulatory frameworks for e-waste management remain limited. Ferreira pointed to NOM-161-SEMARNAT-2011 as the country’s only regulation covering electronic components, describing it as outdated and poorly enforced.

Ferreira warned that the gap between consumption and recycling in Mexico continues to widen. “When these devices come into contact with water, sunlight, and pollution, they begin to degrade and can contaminate bodies of water,” he said, noting that electronic components contain heavy metals capable of causing long-term environmental and health damage once released into ecosystems.

Some rivers in Mexico are already heavily contaminated with heavy metals linked in part to electronic waste, Ferreira added, and such pollution is often irreversible. The rapid growth in first-time sales of electronic products underscores the need to assess how consumption patterns contribute not only to waste accumulation but also to climate change and resource scarcity.

To raise awareness and expand disposal options, UNAM is organizing the Mega Reciclatrón on Jan. 29 and 30 at the Olympic University Stadium parking area in Mexico City. The event aims to divert electronic waste from informal dumping and connect citizens with formal recycling channels.

Ferreira recommends that households separate electronic waste from regular trash and store damaged or obsolete items — such as cables, hard drives, memory devices, laptops, and USB drives — in clearly labeled containers until they can be taken to authorized collection points. “If you recycle 1.2 t of e-waste over your lifetime, you can prevent 1 t of CO₂ from entering the atmosphere,” he said.

While the scale of the problem remains significant, some Mexican municipalities are strengthening recycling infrastructure. In September 2025, Mexico City’s Ministry of Environment (SEDEMA) and Mexican technology company Steren signed a cooperation agreement to promote the proper management of electrical and electronic waste as part of the city’s push toward a circular economy.

Under the agreement, Steren will install 80 fixed collection points at its stores across Mexico City. Identified with totems, the stations will allow consumers to dispose of electronic and electrical waste for recycling or recovery. Officials said the initiative seeks to prevent waste from ending up at unsuitable sites and to strengthen recycling practices in the capital.

“This effort is a call to action to take advantage of this alliance and actively participate in electronic waste collection to strengthen the circular economy,” said Alejandra Atzín Ramírez, Director of Environmental Culture, SEDEMA.

Roberto Castillo, Director General of Coordination of Policies and Environmental Culture, SEDEMA, said the initiative addresses one of the world’s most pressing waste management challenges and underscores the role of public-private collaboration in increasing electronic waste recycling rates.