Oaxaca advances waste management and recycler rights

In Oaxaca, Mexico, the Integrated Solid Urban Waste Revalorization System (SIRRSU) is advancing through various stages to manage waste for the Oaxaca Metropolitan Area. In San Pedro Totolápam, the transfer station and final disposal cell are currently operational. The project includes plans for separation plants and biofertilizer facilities to recover materials and transform organic waste into soil improvers. The biofertilizer plant is currently 30 percent complete, with 152.85 million pesos authorized for its construction.

Parallel to infrastructure developments, there are efforts to dignify the role of informal recyclers, often referred to as ‘pepenadores,’ following the publication of the General Law of Circular Economy. The civil association SiKanda AC recently held a collective meeting to facilitate exchange between recyclers, companies, and authorities. The goal is to ensure that the upcoming regulations and Official Mexican Standards (NOM) recognize and protect the safety and rights of base recyclers, who are essential to the recycling value chain but often remain invisible and undervalued.