From education to infrastructure: ALPLA promotes circular economy in Mexico
More than 200,000 plastic bottles are to be returned to the production cycle every year in future. This is made possible by the first permanent public recycling collection point in Mexico City, initiated by the Vida Circular platform, ALPLA and other partners.
Opening of the first public recycling point for plastic bottles in Mexico City.
The new recycling initiative represents a clear shift from pure awareness-raising to the establishment of concrete infrastructure. At the same time, environmental education is being translated into a measurable, recyclable application. With an annual recovery target of five tonnes of plastic packaging, the programme strengthens existing waste separation systems and returns the materials to new packaging applications.
Carlos Torres, Managing Director of ALPLA Mexico, Central America & Caribbean, emphasises the strategic importance of the project: ‘The circular economy needs more than good intentions. It needs infrastructure and cooperation. This initiative shows how industry and government can work together to achieve tangible environmental progress.’
The official opening of the first collection point took place in Iztapalapa, one of the most populous districts of Mexico City. The location of the collection point will directly impact around 30,000 people, who will now have a nearby facility for separating and properly disposing of recyclable PET, HDPE and PP bottles. The opening was also attended by environmental authorities, including representatives of the national waste management sector and municipal environmental officials. This underlines the close coordination between private sector engagement and public policy objectives.
Through the work of the Vida Circular platform, environmental education is becoming an operational reality. Supported by the global initiative ‘Plastic is Fantastic’ initiated by ALPLA, the project shows how local implementation and international cooperation can together accelerate the transformation to a circular economy.
The recycling point offers three disposal options for bottles made of PET, HDPE and PP plastic materials.
Chairmanship of the recycling division of the plastics industry
Mexico is pushing ahead with its circular economy agenda with great momentum. The implementation of the General Circular Economy Law and the further development of regulatory frameworks for waste separation and the use of recycled materials play a particularly important role in this.
At the same time, ALPLA will take over the chairmanship of the recycling division within ANIPAC (Asociación Nacional de Industrias del Plástico), the association of the Mexican plastics industry, for the 2026 to 2028 term of office. Sandra Gazca, Marketing & Sustainability Manager at ALPLA Mexico, has been appointed chair of the recycling section. This positions the company at the centre of the national recycling dialogue.
This dual approach of infrastructure development and active industry leadership reflects the long-term commitment of ALPLA to sustainably strengthening circular systems in growth markets.
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