Nov 8

2012

Trash is worth something

The New York Times Green blog has an interesting story about what a market in Mexico City does to increase recycling efforts.

Here’s a snippet of the blog post:

Part bottle depot, part farmers’ market, part family outing, the Mercado de Trueque, or barter market, promotes recycling in a region with serious waste management and water issues. Problems range from a lack of landfill space to litter that plugs storm sewers and results in flooding.

The barter market’s coordinator, Paola de María y Campos, describes it as an educational project. “We’re trying to show people that trash is worth something,” he said.

The market takes cardboard, glass, aluminum and bottles in exchange for food at the market.  Each time the market is opened, they take in an average of 20 tons of recyclables.

 

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