UABC Tijuana launches citywide recycling drive
- UABC Tijuana organized a large recycling drive to address delays in municipal waste management. - They projected collecting about 20 tonnes this edition, after previous campaigns gathered up to 28 tonnes. - Organizers warned Tijuana produces about 1,800–2,000 tonnes of waste, urging stronger municipal policies (zetatijuana.com).
The Autonomous University of Baja California opened a two-day recycling drive in Tijuana on April 17 as organizers pointed to delays in the city’s waste system. (zetatijuana.com) The collection was held at the UABC Tijuana campus with Fundación Hélice and accepted paper, old files, used books, electronics and tires from residents, companies and schools on April 17 and 18. (puntonorte.info) Fundación Hélice said it expected to gather about 20 tonnes in this edition after previous campaigns collected as much as 28 tonnes. The group said it has run the drive for five straight years. (zetatijuana.com) Myriam Serra Castellanos, founder and vice president of Fundación Hélice, said Tijuana generates about 1,800 to 2,000 tonnes of waste a day. She said that estimate does not include the city’s floating population. (zetatijuana.com) The drive landed as Tijuana’s municipal government has been expanding cleanup operations rather than a citywide recycling system. In January, the city said a “Tijuana: Ciudad Limpia” operation removed more than 56 tonnes of trash from several neighborhoods. (tijuanadiario.com.mx) City officials also said in September 2025 that Tijuana added 129 garbage trucks, expanded service to more than 300 routes and reached 84,824 homes. (tijuana.gob.mx) Serra said the gap is not only collection but sorting: residents still have few places to take reusable material once it is separated. Fundación Hélice framed the UABC event as a way to keep paper, electronics and tires out of the regular waste stream. (diariotijuana.info) The organizers tied the campaign to “circular economy” programs, which means keeping materials in use through reuse or recycling instead of sending them to a dump. They said the event also aimed to push environmental education in homes, schools and workplaces. (diariotijuana.info) For now, the UABC collection is a short-term drop-off point, not a permanent service. Organizers used this year’s drive to argue that Tijuana needs stronger public policy on waste and recycling beyond periodic cleanup days. (zetatijuana.com)
