Problem Statement:

In Morelia, Mexico, the population generates approximately 1000 tons of garbage on a daily basis. Roughly 650 tons end up in a sanitary landfill, leaving only 35% of solid waste to recycle approximately. In the city of Morelia, the Circular Economy model and recycling methods are not carried out.

 

In our analysis and exploratory research, we were able to observe that the upper-middle-class population of the southeastern area of Morelia is the one that least knows about recycling processes. We also determined in the analysis that the young adult population between the ages of 17 and 30 is the most interested in the environment.

 

Proposed Solution

Our project goal is to promote circular economy among citizens between the ages of 17 and 30 from the southeast area of Morelia in order to reduce between 1% to 5% of solid waste that currently reaches the sanitary landfill and which could be recycled.

 

Activities

The project BeCircular aims to:

• Promote the culture of recycling among the citizens of Morelia.


• Educate the young population in terms of Circular Economy with the support of our allies such as Universities, Sustainable Events and Social Media.


• Create training on waste classification, talks with experts on Circular Economy.


• Forge alliances with companies and relevant people at the national level to have a greater impact.


• Locate and map the collection centers.


• Work with our allies on the specific objectives with each of them and on measuring the impact that each one will have on the project.


• The creation of a Podcast on Circular Economy and Environment.

 

Short and Long-Term Goals

 

• 
  Reduce between 1% until 5%  of solid waste that currently reaches the sanitary landfill and which could be recycled.
  


• Create a series of activities and sustainable markets based on circularity of products. 


• Create a Podcast Call "Nosotrxs en la Tierra" (Us on Earth) for youth.


• Containers in public areas, schools and companies.


• Worked together with th government in order to create a sustainable regulations and  training all the sector. 

 

Available Metrics

 

The pre and post surveys will be a must in the project to have a first analysis and measurement of the impact on people. These will be carried out both on social networks when joining the initiative BeCircular, as well as in Universities and Events.

 

The way in which we will be working with our partners is the most important indicator to measure our impact, since we will have specific formats with the necessary indicators for each partner to measure the impact from their objectives in the project, either in kg of waste collected by people , number of people who go to the collection centers, number of people who know what Circular Economy is through trainings, workshops, talks, or Podcast.

 

OUR IMPACT:

 

Since we initiated the project in 2021, we have successfully connected with various sectors, creating a positive impact in our community. Here are some highlights:

 

• Training: We have trained 600 university students from different disciplines, including architecture, business, and environmental studies, in circular economy and sustainability.

 

• Recycling: More than half a tonne of glass, aluminium, and cardboard was collected through events, schools, and project allies.

 

• Participation: Be Circular has been present at over 20 events, including sustainable markets, school fairs, project presentations, and science weeks.

 

• University Collaboration: The top 5 universities in our community have participated in training across different sectors such as cleanliness, administration, and more.

 

• App Connectivity: We have successfully connected over 30 collection centers with the Ecolana app.

 

• Business Engagement: Over 15 local businesses are in the approval phase for digital integration with Ecolana.

 

• Collaboration: We collaborated with a collection center, organizing 20 collection centers in offices, schools, and more.

 

• Coordination: We coordinated with Tetrapack and the Twon Hall to bring a significant project to our hometown - a recycling center in a strategically important area in our community.

 

• Podcast Impact: Our podcast has reached 2,500 students at UNLA and the Morelia community.

 

Next Steps:

 

• Training Initiative: Coordinate and implement training for over 100 businesses, schools, and offices around the central collection area to achieve a circularity project in the most concentrated area of our hometown.

 

• Environmental Initiatives: Continue working with schools of all grades to provide them with collection containers. With these containers, we are working on planting trees and combating deforestation throughout the year.

 

• Industry Collaboration: Work with Tetrapack to continue connecting industries with new materials, enabling them to adopt sustainable practices.

 

• Community Outreach: Train civil society and students through our social service to reach more communities and support the Tetrapack program in creating a sustainable park with recycled materials.

 

 

• Podcast Expansion: Upload our podcast to various platforms to reach a wider audience, including guests from around the world.

 

Collaborators

 

This Project is created in partnership with the program of the Climate Reality Incubator 2021 with a grant of US$1,000. 

We are working with Ecolana, developing a digital map where they could found a Recycling Center where you can leave your solid receipts and later be able to exchange electronic currencies for sustainable and local products.  

With our collabaration with Tetrapack, we are implementing recycling containers in commen and strategic areas of our city to encourage recycling and training staff from different sectores so that they can manage and create circularity in our community.

Another Ally in UNLA, with which we are collaborating to create a podcast called us on earth where we teach and show them the different phases of sustainability and climate change problems at global, national and local level.

 

BeCircular project has been a success and can now be considered a Shapers and young citizens project creating a positive impact in their locality. Join us!