Trading Trash For Tomatoes in Mexico City

Michael J. Coren reports on a new program in Mexico City that lets residents trade their recyclable trash for credits with nearby farms.

1 minute read

April 25, 2012, 8:00 AM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


While connecting waste to fresh food may seem anathema to many readers, that's exactly what a new program being launched in Mexico's capital city intends to do. According to Coren, in an effort to eliminate landfills and encourage local agriculture, the "government's environmental agency recently launched the Mercado de Trueque, a barter market where recyclable materials are exchanged for fresh food to support the city's farmlands."

"The market accepts glass, paper and cardboard, aluminum beverage cans, PET plastic bottles, and returns 'green points' redeemable for agricultural products grown in and around Mexico City, including lettuce, prickly pears, spinach, tomatoes, plants, and flowers."

The program is already proving popular with local residents. "The first market, held on one Sunday this March, sold out, exchanging nearly three tons of 60 agricultural products for trash."

Monday, April 23, 2012 in Fast Company Co.Exist

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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