Want to recycle? Here’s where to go.
Sheila Madsen, December 2025.
A few facts: 1] every day Mazatlan produces 600 tons of garbage; 2] the city of Mazatlan and the state of Sinaloa do not support a single recycling depot. All the depots mentioned below are run by volunteers who are concerned and are willing to donate their time and space to help with “this problem.” That expression is in quotes because it’s not a problem, it’s our future and Mazatlan is lagging sadly behind, well, in diapers. 3] if you live in a condo, an apartment or a house and you put your garbage out – even if you separate it into plastic, glass etc. it is NOT recycled. 4] the garbage men may sift through it and sell it, or perhaps an independent pepenador/Spanish for “collector” will collect it and resell it.
If you want to recycle, really recycle, here’s where to go. Recycling is a work in progress; baby steps, so do call ahead. Remember, these are passionate volunteers who most likely have other jobs.
Yarde del Angel – is another recycling depot in Centro. It’s located on 21 de Marzo #1401, across from the seafood restaurant Marisqueria El Changuirongo. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., closed Sundays but do call ahead to double check – 669 201 2469 Yarde del Angel accepts glass, paper, plastic etc, all neatly bundled and depending on how heavy [by the pound by the kilo] you may even receive a few pesos!
Separado no es basura
Av. Rafael Buelna [Soriana el Toreo parking lot, in front of Office Depot] Monday to Saturday from 8:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m.
What they will take:
*Paper and cardboard [books, notebooks, newspapers, tickets, shredded paper -should be clean dry and tied up]
*Plastic bottles [rinsed, dry and crushed]* Cartons – milk, cereal cookie, [crushed and clean]
*Aluminum and metal cans [rinsed, dry and crushed]
What they will NOT take:
glass, Tetrapacks, cloth, Styrofoam, plastic that can’t be recycled such as CD cases, batteries, wood, plastic face masks and gloves, electronics [cables, cell phones, tvs, computers.]
Tirado’s oil
This is really a service for restaurants, schools and hotels, but hey, if you want to get a container going in your condo, your apartment, your street, go for it! Pick up service. Need to make an appointment. 669 230 0699, Tamaulipas, Laripillo.
*Used cooking oil [you need to collect a good amount of oil so they can pick it up and then clean it.
CAT Educativo y Ambiental
Diente de Leon 18509, Pradera Dorada, sección 2. Need to make an appointment. 669 230 – 5555
*Electronic Waste: any kind of cable, cell phone, CPU, monitor, charger, keyboard, modem, mouse, etc.
*Paper [clean and dry]
*Plastic bottles [rinsed, dry and crushed]
*Plastic lids
*Aluminum cans [rinsed, dry and crushed]
If you are aware of other recycling depots please contact ; editormazatlanlife@gmail.com, thank you!
So, now you know where to go.