Playa del Carmen Expands Recycling Program with 13 Monthly Collection Points

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — The Playa del Carmen municipal government is expanding environmental protection efforts through its Reciclatón recycling program, which now operates 13 temporary collection points on the first Friday of each month plus one permanent facility.

Xóchilt Moctezuma, director of Environmental Management and Climate Change, explained that the program relies on collaboration from businesses, hotels, developers, and residents to divert solid waste from landfills.

“With cross-sector participation from society, including collection companies, developers, the hotel sector, businesses, and the general public, we can make use of urban solid waste and prevent it from ending up in the landfill,” Moctezuma said.

Recent results show the temporary Reciclatón events collected 21 tons of materials on January 9, 2026, 27 tons on February 6, and 24 tons on March 6. Cardboard, glass, and electronics were the most commonly donated items.

The permanent collection point gathered 33 tons from 2,909 businesses and 145 homes in January 2026, 27 tons from 2,812 people and 164 households in February, and 31 tons from 8,704 businesses and 172 homes in March, with cardboard, glass, and PET plastic being the predominant materials.

In 2025, the program collected 932 tons total—304 tons through twelve temporary events involving 28,381 businesses, and 628 tons at the permanent site with participation from 30,406 businesses and 634 households.

Moctezuma invited residents to participate in the next collection event on Friday, April 10. Temporary collection points include the New Palace esplanade, domes at Monumento a la Madre, Colosio, Misión de las Flores, and Guadalupana parks, the Puerto Aventuras town hall, Centro Maya, Plaza Las Américas, Chedraui Villas del Sol, Poliforum Sports Complex, La Ceiba and Leona Vicario parks, and Super Aki Centro.

Most sites operate from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., except Plaza 28 de Julio, which remains open until 4:00 p.m. The permanent facility, located next to the Public Services Department parking lot in Villamar 1, is available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.