Omar Khalid
Mexico has long imported plastic waste, but the volume of imports has increased dramatically since China's ban on 24 types of solid waste in 2018. This has led to a surge in imports from the US and other countries, with Mexico becoming the largest importer of plastic waste in Latin America. While Mexico's recycling industry has been rapidly expanding its capacity to process plastic waste, it has faced challenges in terms of governance and systemic capacity to address plastic pollution. Despite these challenges, Mexico has a relatively high recycling rate of 30% for plastics, and some sources indicate that the country has a 56% recycling rate for PET plastics, which is mainly used for food-grade containers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic waste in Mexico | Considerable amount |
| Types of plastic waste | Polyethylene (PE), Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Polypropylene (PP), Polystyrene (PS), Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) |
| Plastic recycling rate | 30% of plastic consumed in the country |
| Plastic recycling industry size | 4,300 companies of all sizes |
| PET recycling rate | 56% of all PET plastic consumed |
| PET recycling plant | PetStar, the world's largest food-grade PET recycling plant |
| Plastic waste imports | From the US and other countries |
| Plastic waste exports | To the US and other countries |
| Plastic waste management | Inadequate, leading to low recycling rates and environmental issues |
| Initiatives to reduce plastic waste | Mexico Without Plastic Alliance, banning single-use plastics, promoting reusable items, BioBoxes for recycling |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic pollution and waste management
Mexico has long imported plastic waste, but the volume of imports has increased dramatically since China banned the import of 24 types of solid waste in 2018. This has resulted in a surge of imports from the US and other countries, with Mexico becoming the largest importer of plastic waste in Latin America.
The Mexican government has struggled to manage this new influx of waste, and the country has one of the lowest recycling rates in the world, at just 5%. This has led to plastic pollution leaking into waterways, rivers, beaches, and farmland, with devastating environmental consequences.
However, there are some positive initiatives in place to reduce plastic pollution and improve waste management in Mexico. In 2019, 200 nonprofit organizations formed the Mexico Without Plastic Alliance, with the support of Mexico City residents. The alliance promotes individual zero-waste actions, such as using reusable items instead of single-use plastic, and advocates for policy changes to prohibit single-use plastic. The Mexico City government has also started to ban most single-use plastic items, with plastic bags being the first to be outlawed in 2020.
Mexico has also seen success in the recycling of PET plastics, with a rate of 56% of all PET plastic consumed in the country. This is due to the creation of an infrastructure focused on this material, including the world's largest PET recycling plant, PetStar. The collection and recycling of PET have also generated thousands of direct and indirect jobs in the country.
Other initiatives include the distribution of BioBoxes, which collect aluminum and plastic waste for recycling, and reward users with points that can be redeemed for discounts. Some grocery stores have also implemented policies to reduce plastic waste, such as selling reusable cloth bags and offering discounts on refills of water jugs and returnable, refillable glass bottles.
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Government initiatives and policies
Mexico has implemented various government initiatives and policies to address plastic recycling and reduce plastic pollution. The country has a substantial demand for recyclable plastic waste, creating sales opportunities for small and medium-sized exporters from the United States. Mexico's recycling industry comprises approximately 2,800 companies, 95% of which are SMEs.
At the state and municipal levels, several laws and initiatives have been introduced to tackle plastic pollution. Notably, Mexico City has taken a proactive approach by banning most single-use plastic items. The ban started with plastic bags in 2020, and from January 1, 2021, companies were required to find plastic-free alternatives for other disposable products. This move towards outlawing single-use plastics is a significant step in the right direction.
In 2019, 200 non-profit organizations formed the Mexico Without Plastic Alliance with the support of Mexico City residents. This alliance promotes individual zero-waste actions and advocates for policy changes to prohibit single-use plastics.
Mexico has also demonstrated success in recycling PET (polyethylene terephthalate) with a rate of 56% of all PET plastic consumed in the country, second only to the European Union. This achievement can be attributed to the establishment of Ecoce in 2002, a non-profit environmental civil association sponsored by the food, beverage, and consumer product industries. Today, PET recycling generates thousands of direct and indirect jobs in Mexico.
Additionally, Mexico has been working on environmental awareness campaigns regarding single-use plastics. New recycling initiatives from the government and private organizations have led to the creation of circular economies, where all participants in the value chain play an active role in designing biodegradable, reusable, recyclable, or disposable plastic products.
However, despite these initiatives, Mexico still faces challenges in properly managing plastic waste. A recent investigation revealed that Mexico has doubled its plastic waste imports from the United States in the last two years, which has overwhelmed the country's capacity to handle the influx. This has resulted in a significant amount of plastic waste being improperly disposed of, leading to environmental and health concerns.
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Public awareness and participation
Mexico has a substantial demand for recyclable plastic waste, which presents sales opportunities for small and medium-sized exporters from the United States. The country's recycling industry is made up of approximately 2,800 companies, 95% of which are SMEs. Medium-sized companies are the primary importers of recyclable plastic waste.
Despite this demand, Mexico has one of the lowest plastic recycling rates in the world at just 5%. This is due in part to the improper disposal of plastic waste, which has had devastating environmental impacts. Plastic pollution has contaminated Mexican waterways, farmland, rivers, and beaches.
To address this issue, Mexico has implemented various laws and initiatives to regulate plastic pollution and promote recycling. In 2019, 200 nonprofit organizations formed the Mexico Without Plastic Alliance with the support of Mexico City residents. This alliance promotes individual zero-waste actions, such as using reusable items instead of single-use plastic, and advocates for policy changes to prohibit single-use plastics. The Mexico City government has also banned most single-use plastic items, with plastic bags being the first to be outlawed in 2020.
To encourage public participation in recycling, Mexico has distributed BioBoxes across the city. These boxes can separate and compact aluminum and plastic waste, rewarding users with points that can be redeemed for discounts at local stores and services. Additionally, some grocery stores in Mexico have implemented policies to reduce plastic waste, such as selling reusable cloth bags and offering discounts on refills for water jugs and returnable, refillable glass bottles.
While these initiatives are positive steps, there is a need for a joint effort between authorities, companies, and society to improve waste separation and ensure plastic does not end up in landfills. Public awareness campaigns can play a crucial role in educating the population about proper waste separation and the environmental benefits of recycling.
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Import and export of plastic waste
Mexico's demand for recyclable plastic waste is substantial, providing sales opportunities for small or medium-sized exporters from the US. The country's plastic industry was valued at USD 52 billion in 2022, with US exports of plastic materials, parts, and moulds contributing to this. Mexico's plastics production has grown steadily at an average of 5.27% per year since 2018, with US imports accounting for 61% (USD 26.6 billion) of Mexico's total plastics imports of USD 41.52 billion in 2022.
Mexico's recycling industry comprises 2,800 companies, 95% of which are small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Small companies are primarily focused on waste collection for resale, while medium-sized companies produce significant volumes of recycled resins and are the main importers of recyclable plastic waste.
The country has a particular focus on recycling polyethylene terephthalate (PET), with a 56% recycling rate for all PET plastic consumed in the country. This is due to the creation of an infrastructure centred on PET, including the world's largest food-grade PET recycling plant, PetStar. However, Mexico does import some plastic waste from the US, which has increased since China banned certain types of solid waste in 2018. According to data from 2021, Mexico received 167,548 tons of plastic waste from the US, accounting for 95% of the total plastic waste arriving in the country.
To regulate plastic waste trade, Mexico implemented prior notice and consent requirements for US exports of non-hazardous plastic scrap and waste from January 1, 2021. This requires US exporters to obtain consent from Mexico's environmental agency, Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (SEMARNAT), before exporting plastic waste to the country.
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Recycling technologies and infrastructure
Mexico has been making significant strides in phasing out single-use plastics and bolstering its recycling infrastructure. In 2023, investments in the construction of recycling infrastructure totalled MX$3.7 billion (US$215.2 million). The Mexican government has also implemented various policies to reduce plastic waste, such as banning single-use plastic items and promoting reusable alternatives.
The country's recycling industry is composed of 2,800 companies, 95% of which are small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Small companies primarily focus on waste collection and reselling, while medium-sized companies produce significant volumes of recycled resins and are the main importers of recyclable plastic waste. Large companies tend to recycle in-house to assure compliance with health and environmental standards.
Mexico is a leader in Latin America when it comes to recycling Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and has a recovery and recycling rate of 56-59% for PET plastic, only behind the European Union (57%). This success is attributed to the creation of an infrastructure focused on PET recycling, including the establishment of Ecoce in 2002, a non-profit environmental civil association sponsored by the food, beverage, and consumer product industries. Today, the collection and recycling of PET generate more than 2,000 direct jobs and about 35,000 indirect jobs in Mexico.
However, there are still challenges to be addressed in the country's recycling industry. According to Carlos Saldate of Anipac, there is a need for joint efforts between authorities, companies, and society to improve waste separation and ensure that recyclable materials do not end up in landfills. Technological advancements and state-of-the-art equipment for waste identification and separation are also necessary to improve the efficiency of the recycling process.
To meet the growing demand for recycled plastic and the expected market value of USD 60 billion in 2027, Mexico needs to increase investment in infrastructure and technology. This includes creating environmental education programs, regulations, and incentives to promote the use of recycled plastic in packaging. Additionally, tax incentives and incentives for innovation can accelerate the growth of companies in the recycling sector.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Mexico does recycle plastic. In fact, Mexico has a substantial demand for recyclable plastic waste and is a worldwide success story in PET recycling, with a rate of 56% of all PET plastic consumed in the country. However, it is worth noting that Mexico also has one of the lowest recycling rates in the world, with just 5% of its household plastic waste being recycled. This is due to a variety of factors, including improper waste disposal and a lack of systemic capacity and governance to address plastic pollution.
Mexico has implemented various initiatives and policies to improve plastic recycling and reduce plastic pollution. This includes the distribution of BioBoxes, which collect and recycle plastic waste, and the formation of the Mexico Without Plastic Alliance, which promotes individual zero-waste actions and policy changes to prohibit single-use plastics. Additionally, Mexico has expanded its recycling capacities to process different types of plastic waste and implemented laws to regulate plastic pollution at the state and municipal levels.
Mexico's recycling rate of 30% of plastics consumed in the country is three times higher than that of the United States and Canada. However, it is slightly behind the European Union, which has a 57% recycling rate for PET plastics. Mexico is also the world's second-largest consumer of PET plastics and home to PetStar, the largest food-grade PET recycling plant globally.
