Pilot-scale waste segregation plant in Ciudad Cuauhtémoc, Mexico. Environmental benefits

A pilot-scale urban solid waste segregation plant was implemented in Ciudad Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua, Mexico, to address rising municipal waste generation and insufficient recycling rates. This study evaluates a pilot-scale, context-adapted, semi-mechanised waste segregation system under real operating conditions in a mid-sized municipality. The pilot plant’s technical design combined manual sorting with mechanical separation to recover valuable materials. A mass balance analysis was conducted on 8 tons per day of mixed municipal solid waste (MSW), quantifying outputs of recyclable materials, an organic fraction for composting, refuse-derived fuel (RDF), and residuals sent to landfill. The plant diverted ≈25% of incoming waste to recycling streams and ≈45% to compost/RDF, leaving only ≈30% as landfill residue. Recovered materials included plastics, paper, metals, and glass, while separated organics were composted in windrows, yielding usable compost. The pilot’s operation significantly reduced landfill burden and greenhouse gas emissions. The project also engaged informal waste pickers in the formal system, demonstrating improved social inclusion and economic opportunities. The pilot plant successfully showcased an integrated approach to MSW management, increasing resource recovery and reducing environmental impacts. These findings report strategies to scale up waste segregation infrastructure and policies, fostering Mexico’s transition toward sustainable, circular waste management.