Quintana Roo Recycling Program Trades PET, Aluminum and Cardboard for Food Baskets

Cancún, Quintana Roo — A Quintana Roo program that trades household recyclables for food baskets has reached 12,000 beneficiaries in 2026 and is closing in on its goal of 15,000, according to the state government.

The initiative, called Recicla por tu Futuro, is run by the state Environment and Ecology Department (SEMA). It is designed to encourage families to separate their waste at home while offering participants a direct benefit in return.

Officials say the program has met about 80 percent of its target of 15,000 beneficiaries for the year.

How the Exchange Works

To take part, residents must be registered and present a valid official photo ID. Materials must be delivered clean, separated and compacted.

Accepted items are 2 kilograms of aluminum, 10 kilograms of PET plastic, or 30 kilograms of paper, cardboard and laminated cardboard. The program also takes 30 kilograms of HDPE plastic, depending on the collection schedule set for each site.

In exchange, participants receive a food basket.

Upcoming Collection Days

The schedule continues on Tuesday, September 29, at the Domo Región 96 in Cancún, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

On Thursday, October 1, the program moves to the Domo Vicente Guerrero in Alfredo V. Bonfil, also from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The following day, Friday, October 2, the collection point moves to Chetumal at the Domo Hábitat 1, with the same hours.

As of August, 850 people had signed up in Chetumal, while enrollment across the state stood at about 12,000.

The collection days form part of the state’s efforts to promote recycling, cut the volume of waste generated and encourage its reuse. Residents who want to participate can bring their pre-sorted materials to any of the designated sites.