Subject of Intent
Generation of Solid Waste in Mexico City
“Big Print” Intention Statement
Reduce solid waste in Mexico City.
“Small Print” Intention Statement
Achieve at least a 5% reduction in the average daily generation of solid waste in Mexico City during 2025 compared to the annual daily averages reported by Mexico City’s Ministry of the Environment over the past five years, measured in metric tons per day.
Suggested Start Time
ASAP
Suggested Length
Three months
Background
Among Latin American countries, Mexico has the greatest amount of garbage generated per capita. Mexico City is the federal entity that generates the most garbage on a city-by-city basis throughout the entire country. According to recent data from the National Institute of Statistics, Geography and Informatics (INEGI), of all the garbage produced in the country, about one-seventh comes from Mexico City.
Many problems are associated with the enormous amount of garbage— solid waste—produced in the Mexican capital, including the deterioration of recreational areas, the contamination of bodies of water, and a negative urban image because of the amount of garbage in open areas and vacant lots. However, the biggest of all problems is the vast number of people who, every year, suffer partial or total loss of their property due to flooding caused by the accumulation of large amounts of solid waste, especially in drains and sewers. According to figures from the Mexico City Water System (SACMEX, 2024), the accumulation of solid waste is the cause of approximately 50% of the floods in Mexico City.
The solid waste problem in Mexico’s main city is caused by various factors, such as a lack of budget for cleaning services, poor waste management, and the absence of waste containers on public roads. However, the main issue lies in the lack of environmental awareness among many residents of the capital, which is reflected in the fact that more than half of the population admits to having disposed of solid waste on the street.
Learn More
Waste generation in Mexico [Spanish]
Waste management: Mexico report
Informal waste management in Mexico: poor infrastructure, health hazards and organized crime