Mexico City's Barter Market offers plants and produce for recyclables

Mexico City residents can turn their recyclables into fresh produce and plants at the "Mercado de Trueque" (Barter Market), an environmental education initiative by the Secretariat of the Environment (Sedema).

The program aims to promote sustainable living by encouraging households to separate waste at the source and recycle valuable materials, diverting them from landfills. This itinerant market travels to different parts of the capital, making sustainability accessible to more families and helping to mitigate climate change effects.

Participation is straightforward: individuals can bring between 1 kg and 5 kg of accepted recyclable materials. Accepted items include various plastics (HDPE, PET, PP), flexible packaging (BOPP, PEBD, Multi-packs), metals (aluminum, tinplate), paper, cardboard, electronics, and special donations like used cooking oil and coffee capsules. Notably, items like clothing, light bulbs, bottle caps, and styrofoam are not accepted.

Upon weighing the materials, participants receive "green points" which can be exchanged for regional agricultural products, fresh vegetables, and plants. The upcoming event will be held on Sunday, August 9, 2026, from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Calle Avenida Río Churubusco S/N, in the Gabriel Ramos Millán neighborhood of Iztacalco, Mexico City. Attendees are advised to prepare their waste in advance and bring reusable bags for their exchanged goods.