Abstract
Throughout the pandemic, there was an increased urban solid waste generation because of the lifestyle change brought on by a rise in consumption regime that is unsustainable, mainly operating under a linear economy, and so we must change towards a circular economy. The circular economy interferes with the object’s design, inducing it to use renewable energies, avoid using toxic substances, reintegrate waste into its biogeochemical cycles, or extend its life-use for a longer time, thereby preventing environmental impacts from extraction to final disposal waste.
For Mexico, the concept of a circular economy is new. Still, the action of keeping products in use is not, with businesses dedicated to renting, maintaining, repairing, reusing, recycling, renovating, and sharing objects with the community for decades; there is even a word from Nahuatl to refer to markets where you can buy secondhand things, tianguis. However, these businesses have threats and weaknesses, such as not giving guarantees, objects or repair parts of doubtful origin, and low-quality repairs. That’s why it is necessary to understand how the informal circular economy works in Mexico; the present work proposes to describe it.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adelodun B, Ajibade FO, Ibrahim RG et al (2021) Insights into hazardous solid waste generation during COVID-19 pandemic and sustainable management approaches for developing countries. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 23:2077–2086
Alam I, Alam G, Ayub S, Siddiqui AA (2019) Assessment of bio-medical waste management in different hospitals in Aligarh City. In: Advances in waste management. Springer Singapore, pp 501–510. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0215-2_36
Alÿs F (2006) Diez cuadras alrededor del estudio walking distance from the studio. Ciudad de México. https://dokumen.tips/download/link/francis-alys-walking-interioreshi.html
Aparcana S (2017) Approaches to formalisation of the informal waste sector into municipal solid waste management systems in low- and middle-income countries: review of barriers and success factors. Waste Manag 61:593–607
Braby W (1968) Everyday life of the Aztecs. Dorsey, New York
Brandão M, Lazarevic D, Finnveden G (2020) Prospects for the circular economy and conclusions. In: Handbook of the circular economy. http://kth.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A1664774&dswid=33
Bravi L, Murmura F, D’anghela M (2019) Wood furniture SMEs approaches towards circular economy: a literature review. Viana do Castelo
Burgon JD (2016) Designing a circular economy. https://books.google.com.mx/books?hl=es&lr=&id=ZEpnDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT82&dq=Burgon+JD+(2016)+Designing+a+circular+economy&ots=nKxRo9wQiM&sig=LJ4jrLMSAepgfDaSoVuyw5OQtd0#v=onepage&q&f=
Castillo Berthier H (1984) El basurero Antropología de la miseria. http://ru.iis.sociales.unam.mx/jspui/handle/IIS/4678
Chen CW (2021) Clarifying rebound effects of the circular economy in the context of sustainable cities. Sustain Cities Soc 66:102622. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2020.102622
Cortinas C (2001) Bases e implicaciones de las legislaciones sobre residuos. Ciudad de México. https://cristinacortinas.org/sustentabilidad/libros/
Cruvinel VRN, Marques CP, Cardoso V et al (2019) Health conditions and occupational risks in a novel group: waste pickers in the largest open garbage dump in Latin America. BMC Public Health 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-6879-x
Dieleman H, Martínez-Rodríguez M-C (2019) Potentials and challenges for a circular economy in Mexico. pp 9–24. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92931-6_2
Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2013) Towards the economy. https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/towards-the-circular-economy-vol-1-an-economic-and-business-rationale-for-an
Florisbelados Santos AL, Günther W (2001) De pepenadores y triadores. El sector informal y los residuos sólidos municipales en México y Brasil. Gaceta Ecol 70–80. https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=53906006
González H (1993) Estudio sobre los circuitos de reciclaje de desechos sólidos en la ciudad de Bogotá. ENDA-América Latina. https://es.scribd.com/document/61544239/Estudio-sobre-los-circuitos-de-reciclaje-de-desechos-solidos-en-la-ciudad-de-Bogota#
Guzmán CM, Macías Manzanares CH (2011) El manejo de los residuos sólidos municipales: un enfoque antropológico. El caso de San Luis Potosí, México. El Colegio de San Luis, AC
Hahladakis JN, Iacovidou E, Gerassimidou S (2020) Plastic waste in a circular economy. In: Plastic waste and recycling. Elsevier, pp. 481–512. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-817880-5.00019-0
Harris S, Martin M, Diener D (2021) Circularity for circularity’s sake? Scoping review of assessment methods for environmental performance in the circular economy. Sustain Prod Consum 26:172–186
Heshmati A (2017) A review of the circular economy and its implementation. Green Econ 11:251–288
INECC (2012) Diagnóstico básico para la gestión integral de los residuos instituto nacional de ecología y cambio climático Versión Extensa
INEGI (2005) II Conteo de población y vivienda 2005. In: http://www.inegi.org.mx
Jiménez Martínez NM (2015) La gestión integral de residuos sólidos urbanos en México: entre la intención y la realidad. Letras Verdes Rev Latinoamericana Estud Socioambientales 17:33–35. https://doi.org/10.17141/letrasverdes.17.2015.1419
Jiménez-Martínez NM (2020) La gestión de los residuos sólidos urbanos en tiempos del COVID-19. La gestión de los residuos sólidos urbanos en tiempos del –19 | Nancy Merary Jiménez-MartínezNotas de coyuntura del CRIM
Joensuu T, Edelman H, Saari A (2020) Circular economy practices in the built environment. J Clean Prod 276:124215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.124215
Kirchherr J, Reike D, Hekkert M (2017) Conceptualizing the circular economy: an analysis of 114 definitions. Resour Conserv Recycl 127:221–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.09.005
Kulkarni BN, Anantharama V (2020) Repercussions of COVID-19 pandemic on municipal solid waste management: challenges and opportunities. Sci Total Environ 743:140693. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140693
Lenz H (1990) Historia del papel en México y cosas relacionadas: 1525–1950. Mexico. https://maporrua.com.mx/product/historia-del-papel-en-mexico-y-cosasrelacionadas/
Long WA (2000) La recuperación informal de los residuos sólidos en Guadalajara: Una investigación del conflicto entre los pepenadores y la economía formal de los desechos
Lozano G, Ojeda S, Armijo C, et al (2009) La basura como opción de trabajo: un perfil sociodemográfico de los pepenadores
Medina M (1993) Recovery of recyclables in Mexico City. New Haven. https://doi.org/10.17428/rfn.v11i21.1411
Medina M (1997a) Scavenging on the border: a study of the informal recycling sector in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico and Laredo, Texas. New Haven
Medina M (1997b) Informal recycling and collection of solid wastes in developing countries: issues and opportunities. In: Medina M (ed) Informal recycling and collection of solid wastes developing countries: issues and opportunities. Working paper number 24. United Nations University/Institute of Advanced Studies, Tokyo
Medina M (1999) Reciclaje de desechos sólidos en América Latina. El Colegio Frontera Norte 11:7
Mhatre P, Panchal R, Singh A, Bibyan S (2021) A systematic literature review on the circular economy initiatives in the European Union. Sustain Prod Consum 26:187–202
Moonsammy S, Oyedotun TDT, Renn-Moonsammy DM et al (2021) COVID-19 effects on municipality waste collection services for households: statistical modelling of perspectives from Guyana and Nigeria. J Mater Cycles Waste Manage 23:1678–1687. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-021-01225-4
Naughton CC (2020) Will the COVID-19 pandemic change waste generation and composition?: the need for more real-time waste management data and systems thinking. Resour Conserv Recycl 162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.105050
Niskanen J, Anshelm J, McLaren D (2020) Local conflicts and national consensus: the strange case of circular economy in Sweden. J Clean Prod 261:121117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.121117
Ottoni M, Dias P, Xavier LH (2020) A circular approach to the e-waste valorisation through urban mining in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. J Clean Prod 261:120990. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120990
PAHO, WHO (2005) Informe de la evaluación regional de los servicios de manejo de residuos sólidos municipales en América Latina y el Caribe. Washington, DC. https://www.virtualpro.co/biblioteca/informe-de-la-evaluacionregional-de-los-servicios-de-manejo-de-residuos-solidos-municipales-en-america-latina-y-elcaribe-#comocitar
Palafox-Alcantar PG, Hunt DVL, Rogers CDF (2020) The complementary use of game theory for the circular economy: a review of waste management decision-making methods in civil engineering. Waste Manag 102:598–612
Pérez CF (2015) Circular economy & business opportunities in Mexico. ProMéxico
Priestley J (1968) Civilization, water and wastes. Chem Ind 12:355–363
Rathje W (1990) The history of garbage. Garbage Magazine
Rathje W, Murphy C (1993) Rubbish! The archaeology of Garbage. Harper Collins, New York
Reike D, Vermeulen WJV, Witjes S (2018) The circular economy: new or refurbished as CE 3.0? – exploring controversies in the conceptualisation of the circular economy through a focus on history and resource value retention options. Resour Conserv Recycl 135:246–264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.08.027
Robaina M, Villar J, Pereira ET (2020) The determinants for a circular economy in Europe. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27:12566–12578. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-07847-9
Romero-Hernández O, Romero Hernández S, Muñoz D et al (2009) Environmental implications and market analysis of soft drink packaging systems in Mexico. A waste management approach. Int J Life Cycle Assess 14:107–113. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-008-0053-5
Sáez A, Urdaneta JA (2014) Manejo de residuos sólidos en América Latina y el Caribe
Salmenperä H, Pitkänen K, Kautto P, Saikku L (2021) Critical factors for enhancing the circular economy in waste management. J Clean Prod 280:124339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.124339
Salvador R, Barros MV, da Luz LM et al (2020) Circular business models: current aspects that influence implementation and unaddressed subjects. J Clean Prod 250:119555
Salviani de Boseck S, González G (2009) Economías informales en la ciudad de México, La red de la basura. Getión y Ambiente
Sehnem S, Vazquez-Brust D, Pereira SCF, Campos LMS (2019) Circular economy: benefits, impacts and overlapping. Supply Chain Manag 24:784–804. https://doi.org/10.1108/SCM-06-2018-0213
SEMARNAT (2008) Programa nacional para la prevención y gestión integral de los residuos
SEMARNAT (2019) Diagnóstico básico para la gestión integral de los residuos
Sentíes Y, Sánchez Rubio R, Wamsler C, Bonfill Valle C (2000) El Sector Informal en la separación del material reciclable de los residuos sólidos municipales en el Estado de México
Serge Kubanza N (2021) The role of community participation in solid waste management in Sub-Saharan Africa: a study of Orlando East, Johannesburg, South Africa. S Afr Geogr J 103:223–236. https://doi.org/10.1080/03736245.2020.1727772
Sharma HB, Vanapalli KR, Cheela VS et al (2020) Challenges, opportunities, and innovations for effective solid waste management during and post COVID-19 pandemic. Resour Conserv Recycl 162:105052. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.105052
Singh E, Kumar A, Mishra R, Kumar S (2022) Solid waste management during COVID-19 pandemic: recovery techniques and responses. Chemosphere 288:132451. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132451
SWANA (2021) Coronavirus resources. https://swana.org/resources/corona-virus-resources. Accessed 4 Dec 2021
Taboada-González P, Aguilar-Virgen Q, Ojeda-Benítez S, Cruz-Sotelo S (2014) Application of analytic hierarchy process in a waste treatment technology assessment in Mexico. Environ Monit Assess 186:5777–5795. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-014-3819-1
Thomson B (2020) The COVID-19 pandemic: a global natural experiment. Circulation 142:14–16
Tsai FM, Bui TD, Tseng ML et al (2020) Municipal solid waste management in a circular economy: a data-driven bibliometric analysis. J Clean Prod 275:124132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.124132
Velenturf APM, Archer SA, Gomes HI et al (2019) Circular economy and the matter of integrated resources. Sci Total Environ 689:963–969. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.449
Velvizhi G, Shanthakumar S, Das B et al (2020) Biodegradable and non-biodegradable fraction of municipal solid waste for multifaceted applications through a closed loop integrated refinery platform: paving a path towards circular economy. Sci Total Environ 731. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138049
Veraart R, Blok V (2021) Towards a philosophy of a bio-based economy: a levinassian perspective on the relations between economic and ecological systems. Environ Values 30:169–192. https://doi.org/10.3197/096327120X15916910310626
Villegas P (2010) Del tianguis prehispánico al tianguis colonial Lugar de intercambio y predicación (siglo XVI)
Vizcaíno MF (1975) La contaminación en México
WHO (2020a) Statement on the second meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). https://www.who.int/news/item/30-01-2020-statement-on-the-second-meeting-of-the-international-health-regulations-(2005)-emergency-committee-regarding-the-outbreak-of-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov). Accessed 4 Dec 2021
WHO (2020b) Shortage of personal protective equipment endangering health workers worldwide. https://www.who.int/news/item/03-03-2020-shortage-of-personal-protective-equipment-endangering-health-workers-worldwide. Accessed 4 Dec 2021
Zambrano-Monserrate MA, Ruano MA, Sanchez-Alcalde L (2020) Indirect effects of COVID-19 on the environment. Sci Total Environ 728:138813. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138813
Zepeda HE, Feliu J, Lajeneusse S (2013) Tesis doctoral el conjuro urbano táctica y estrategia del tianguis mexicano
Zou L, Ruan F, Huang M et al (2020) SARS-CoV-2 viral load in upper respiratory specimens of infected patients. N Engl J Med 382:1177–1179. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmc2001737
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Section Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Manzanares-Manzanarez, M.E., Martínez-Rodríguez, M.C., Alvarado Cardona, M. (2023). Informal Circular Economy in Mexico. In: Aguilar-Rivera, N., Borsari, B., R. B. de Brito, P., Andrade Guerra, B. (eds) SDGs in the Americas and Caribbean Region. Implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals – Regional Perspectives. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-16017-2_48
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-16017-2_48
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-16016-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-16017-2
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Earth and Environmental Sciences