Tijuana’s municipal government collected 57 tons of recyclable materials during a single weekend event on June 14 and 15, part of a recurring citywide program called “Reciclatón” that converts household waste into usable resources. The two-day drive, held across multiple collection points, drew thousands of residents who turned in everything from cardboard and plastic to old electronics and used cooking oil.
Reciclatón Has Run Since 2022 Under Montserrat Caballero’s Administration
The Reciclatón program launched under Mayor Montserrat Caballero’s administration as a periodic waste-diversion effort. Tijuana generates roughly 3,500 tons of solid waste per day, according to municipal data. The city’s main landfill, located in the Lomas del Rincón area east of the city center, has faced capacity concerns for years. Against that backdrop, diversion programs like Reciclatón aim to pull recyclable material out of the waste stream before it reaches the dump.
This edition accepted a wide range of materials. Residents brought PET plastic bottles, cardboard, paper, aluminum cans, scrap metal, glass, and used tires. The event also collected electronic waste, batteries, and used cooking oil, which can be processed into biodiesel or industrial soap. Collection points were staffed by municipal workers from Tijuana’s Servicios Públicos department, along with volunteers from environmental organizations.
The 57-ton haul broke down across material categories. Cardboard and paper made up the largest share, a pattern consistent with previous editions. PET plastic and aluminum followed. Electronic waste, though smaller in volume, is among the most environmentally significant categories because of the heavy metals and toxic components in old phones, monitors, and appliances. Municipal officials noted that e-waste collection has grown each edition as residents become more aware of the program.
Tijuana’s recycling infrastructure remains limited compared to cities of similar size. Formal curbside recycling does not exist in most colonias. Instead, the city relies on informal waste pickers (known locally as pepenadores) and periodic events like Reciclatón. A 2023 report from the Secretaría de Infraestructura y Desarrollo Urbano, Baja California’s state infrastructure agency, estimated that less than 10% of Tijuana’s recyclable waste is actually recovered. The rest goes to landfill or ends up in ravines, vacant lots, and the Tijuana River channel.
Illegal Dumping Costs Tijuana Millions of Pesos Annually
Illegal dumping is one of the city’s most persistent environmental problems. In 2024, municipal crews cleared over 200 illegal dump sites across Tijuana, according to Servicios Públicos records. Cleanup costs run into the tens of millions of pesos annually. The problem is worst in rapidly growing eastern colonias where trash collection service is inconsistent or nonexistent. Some neighborhoods receive pickup only once a week; others, especially those on unpaved hillside roads, get no regular service at all.
Events like Reciclatón serve a dual purpose in this context. They divert material from the landfill, but they also give residents in underserved areas an accessible disposal option for bulky or hazardous items. Used tires, for example, are a major source of illegal dumping and a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Old cooking oil, when poured down drains, clogs sewer lines. By collecting these items at dedicated drop-off points, the city reduces downstream costs.
For residents on both sides of the border, Tijuana’s waste management challenges have direct consequences. Trash from Tijuana’s canyons washes into the Tijuana River during winter rains, flowing across the international border into Imperial Beach and Coronado. In February 2024, heavy storms pushed debris, sewage, and solid waste into the Tijuana River Valley, prompting beach closures in South San Diego County that lasted weeks. Upstream waste diversion in Tijuana, even at modest scale, is part of the long-term solution to that cross-border contamination cycle.
The 57 tons recovered in this edition represent a small fraction of what Tijuana discards in a single day. But the program’s reach has grown. Municipal officials reported that participation in the June event exceeded previous editions, with collection points in Otay, Playas de Tijuana, Zona Centro, and La Mesa all reporting high turnout. The city has not announced the next Reciclatón date, but the events have typically occurred on a quarterly basis.
Tijuana’s municipal government plans to continue the program through the remainder of 2025. Residents can check the Servicios Públicos social media pages for future dates and collection point locations. This story was first reported by El Imparcial.