Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - From recycling to conserving, working to minimize the environmental and social impacts associated with tourism operations is a commitment made by Mayor Arturo Dávalos Peña and the Municipal Government of Puerto Vallarta.

To demonstrate the community's commitment to environmental responsibility, the City of Puerto Vallarta is hosting the second "Reduce, Reuse & Recycle" contest, to be held from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm on Saturday, November 14 on the sidewalks surrounding the Municipal Building in the Plaza Principal in downtown Puerto Vallarta.

Everyone is invited to participate in the "Reduce, Reuse & Recycle" competition, which has two categories: children ages 9-15 years and adults aged 16 and up.

To participate, all you have to do is create something amazing, like art, a piece of furniture or other useful object, that's made from at least 80% recycled material and register via email to medioambientepv(at)hotmail.com by the November 10 deadline. Be sure to include the names of your team members (2-4 participants) and the name of the agency, institution or company you represent (if applicable), as well as your project's description and the materials used. Once you receive a reply, your registration is complete.

"The goal is to create a culture that will allow us as citizens to identify materials that can be reused, so that we can separate those items from the garbage. This will generate better waste management practices and increase the life of our landfills. The contest is open to everyone except those who have professional furniture workshops or recycled furniture businesses. What we are trying to do is test the creativity of citizens in the use of materials they have on hand," explained Juan Jose Navarro, the Deputy Director of Vallarta's Environment and Ecology Department.

"With this competition we are commemorating World Recycling Day, which is the 15th of November, while continuing our work to create a recycling culture in Vallarta," said the city official. It is important to note that the participating teams need to be at City Hall with their projects by 8:00 am for the assignment of display spaces," he added.

Entries will be judged by an evaluation committee, who will take into account the criteria of originality, design, and benefit (use and/or enjoyment). Extra points will be awarded for the project's presentation and cleanliness.