La Paz has been selected as one of only two municipalities in Mexico to participate in the South Pacific Alliance Cooperation Fund, an international initiative focused on organic waste management and home composting. Mayor Milena Quiroga announced the city’s inclusion in the program, which pairs La Paz with communities in Chile, Colombia, and Peru.
The other Mexican municipality chosen is San Pedro Mixtepec in Oaxaca. Mexico’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) selected both cities to implement the organic waste program on its behalf.
International Partners Visit La Paz
Andrea Arriagada, a representative of the Chile-based organization Geociclos, recently traveled to La Paz to formally announce the municipality’s participation. During her visit, Arriagada toured local waste management facilities and met with city officials to outline the program’s strategy.
Representatives from SEMARNAT and other participating agencies also attended planning meetings. The group focused on how La Paz will implement comprehensive organic waste management through recycling and home composting at the household level.
“We are proud that our sustainability and waste management practices continue to place La Paz on the international stage,” Quiroga said.
Existing Infrastructure in Place
La Paz already operates an Eco Park that runs composting, vermicomposting, and mulch production programs. The city’s new Transfer Station, a centralized facility for sorting and processing waste before it reaches the landfill, is 85% complete.
Quiroga said La Paz’s selection recognizes the municipality’s progress in solid waste management. That progress includes staff training, equipment upgrades, and environmental programs targeting homes and communities across the city.
What It Means for Residents
If the program rolls out as planned, households in La Paz could soon have structured options for diverting organic waste from landfills. Home composting kits or training programs, backed by international funding and Chilean technical expertise, would give residents a practical way to reduce garbage output.
Organic waste, including food scraps and yard trimmings, makes up a significant share of what Mexican municipalities send to landfills. Diverting that material through composting can extend landfill life and reduce methane emissions from decomposing waste.
La Paz will serve as a national model for household-level organic waste programs, according to city officials. The timeline for distributing composting resources to residents has not yet been announced.
This story was first reported by Gringo Gazette.