Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - The municipal government of Puerto Vallarta is fine-tuning the details for the implementation of an Urban Waste Separation and Recycling system that will begin with a pilot program in the downtown area of the city.

The new waste separation program will be emphasized and the trash will be collected in different ways, which means that the public's assistance and knowledge of the new recycling system's workings is necessary.

The Municipal Director of Public Services, Efraín Alcalá, said that El Centro was chosen for the pilot program since the downtown area already has a regular trash pick up schedule on three daily shifts. They are currently working to establish the recyclable collection routes and schedules, as well as the signage needed to implement the program.

"The Urban Waste Separation and Recycling Program depends on the citizens living in the area helping us separate organic and inorganic waste. We are already working to have very definitive signs made and we are analyzing routes in this area where trash collection is constant and continuous and not interrupted by any situation or contingency. These key factors will allow us to carry out this activity, so it is a viable area for the pilot program," explained the municipal officer.

He added that they have already made agreements with the garbage concessionaire, whose participation will be an important part of this program and can offer recommendations for better implementation which, in turn, will make it easier to implement the program in the rest of the municipality's colonias.

For his part, the Director of Environment and Ecology, Juan José Navarro Amaral, said they are considering the best way to collect trash. He said the recycling program may alternate days of collecting only organic or only inorganic trash, and it will be necessary for the people to separate their rubbish in bags or bins of different colors.

"It is essential to carry out the plan of action we are working on, since the primary separation allows us to extend the life of a landfill. The separation allows us to identify which materials can still be used, or can be recycled for another use, as with paper, cardboard, glass, aluminum and other waste materials generated on a daily basis. In addition, we are about to begin making the final adjustments to city ordinance to reinforce and strengthen the coordinated efforts between society and government, which must happen to implement the program successfully," the city official said.

It should be noted that prior to this program, the Directorate of Environment and Ecology implemented a program about 18 months ago to induce public awareness and environmental education in schools, organized groups, hotels, restaurants and businesses around the city.

"So far we have shared the importance of identifying and separating waste with approximately 13 thousand people, with the majority being children because we are betting on them to generate the environmentally aware culture we need at this time," he said.