Since arriving in Mexico, we’ve seen many posters like this one with recycling information
Back in 2000, Mike was between jobs and did the only logical thing – put the boards and the dog in the truck and take a surf trip down the Baja coast. It was great experience, but one of the surprises was the amount of trash. Nearly every roadside was littered with paper, plastic bags and broken glass. The otherwise beautiful beaches were no better – it was a stark contrast to what we’re used to in the US.
This sign at a hardware store in Las Varas reads “Las Varas says: Without bags please. In this business we do not use plastic bags. Bring your reusable bags or get one here”
Fast forward almost 20 years, and the situation has changed significantly. There are trash cans on (or at least near) the beach in even the smallest towns, and we’ll often see signs reminding folks to not litter. While recycling is certainly not widespread here, the larger towns will often have stations where plastic, glass, and organics can be separated for recycling.
This sign in Barra de Navidad reads “No more bags. Help us to change history”
Particularly away from cities, Mexico can still sometimes feel like a developing country. Given that, it’s not surprising that people spend their time worrying about things other than how to handle their trash. But it’s amazing to see the change made in a relatively short period of time, and it’s a change for the better, in our opinion.
