Introduction
Readers of a certain age may recall the slogan that heads this column. A slogan to which neither our generation nor those that followed paid heed. Now, starting January 1st of the upcoming year, Mexico City authorities have returned to this obligatory matter, this time in a colorful and genuinely eco-friendly manner, with the goal of categorizing waste. The question is: are we prepared for this change?
The New Waste Separation System
The instructions are clear and chromatically optimistic: organic waste should be placed in a green container, recyclable inorganic waste in a gray one, and non-recyclable waste in an orange container. In other words, trash has become a traffic light. However, what’s unclear is where we can find these bins since, as a minor detail, hardly anyone in this noble city possesses three appropriately sized and colored containers.
Authorities “plan” to distribute as many bins as possible in residences, but the question remains: which residences, how many, and when? Because the schedule only dictates action without specifying a clear starting point, as on January 1st, half the population was still deciding if the new year had truly begun or if we needed an earthquake as a starting point.
Improvisation and Challenges
Meanwhile, residents improvise. Families have started separating waste using paint buckets, mop basins, and an orphaned plant pot converted into an “organic” container. In a city where pizza arrives before the metro, one learns to survive with creativity.
The second contradiction arrives on wheels: garbage trucks lack compartments to collect sorted waste. In other words, you take the trouble to meticulously categorize your trash, take it out at the right time on the specified day, and consider yourself an exemplary citizen. The garbage truck arrives, and the sanitation workers—those urban heroes—mix it all up with the enthusiasm of a DJ in a nightclub. The trash doesn’t discriminate by type.
It seems the path to the dump is paved with good intentions. The head of government proposes, with the best intentions, another utopia. A city where everyone wakes up early, lovingly separates their waste, and takes it out on time. Where garbage trucks collect with surgical precision, and waste finds its final destination like someone discovering their vocation. A city where a banana peel knows its identity and destination. A city with color-coded bins and garbage trucks that don’t mix everything indiscriminately.
Key Questions and Answers
- Question: Is the new waste separation system ready for implementation?
- Question: How are residents adapting to the new system?
- Question: What are the main concerns regarding the new system?
Answer: The system lacks essential components such as adequate bins, specialized garbage trucks, and sufficient worker training. Residents must adhere to a strict schedule without clear guidelines on bin distribution.
Answer: Residents are improvising with available household items, demonstrating creativity in waste separation. However, the lack of proper bins and training poses challenges.
Answer: Concerns include insufficient bin distribution, the absence of specialized garbage trucks, and inadequate worker training. Additionally, the complex sorting schedule adds to the confusion.
Conclusion
While separating waste is a great idea and urgently needed, announcing the system without necessary infrastructure is like inaugurating a swimming pool without water. However, if there are no bins, gloves, specialized trucks, or clarity, we can still take solace in knowing that, at least rhetorically, our waste now resides in a perfect city. Though we, as residents, may not be there yet.
Latest update: according to the garbage truck drivers passing by this reporter’s home, separating only organic waste is sufficient. Will they only collect on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays?
