What—and how—should I take things to the recycling plant?

Cleaning up is only one part of keeping our ecosystems healthy. The harder task lies in becoming aware of our consumer habits and changing them. Right now, Loreto produces more trash than our municipal dump can handle. That’s why it’s so important to think twice about what we buy—and how we dispose of it.

Like many other environmental issues affecting our magical town, proper waste management is long overdue. Thankfully, 2025 began with renewed efforts to make a measurable difference along our coastline. During recent coastal restoration activities, the Keep Loreto Magical (KLM) trained staff has classified debris into over 35 categories of trash. This process not only helps us clean, but also reveals the biggest challenges we face in educating our community and shifting how we all think about waste.

Much of the pollution in our sea comes from trash dumped directly on the sand or near the shoreline. But we must also remember: the largest portion of what fills the open-pit municipal dump actually comes from our own homes. Without proper management—or the active participation of every community member—this waste will either be burned, releasing toxic particles into our air, or be washed downhill during hurricane season, directly into our Marine Park.

If you’re already familiar with the Enviroclean facility on the highway between Loreto and Nopoló—or if this is the first time you’re learning about it—consider paying them a visit. Run by César Díaz and his family, this recycling operation welcomes community members every Saturday. Take your recyclables, learn what they can accept, and in what condition, so we can all make recycling effective.

💙 Your donations fuel the efforts of the Keep Loreto Magical network, supporting projects like the Enviroclean recycling operation. With gratitude, we also thank our fiscal sponsor, The Ocean Foundation, for making this possible.

Quick guide to learn how to help recycle

✅ Think before you buy

Choose products with less packaging.
Prefer reusable or refillable options.

✅ Sort your recyclables

Separate paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, and metals.
Rinse containers to remove food or liquid.

✅ Know where to go

Take your clean recyclables to Enviroclean (highway between Loreto and Nopoló).
Drop-off day: Every Saturday.

✅ Learn what’s accepted

Ask staff which items they can process. Learn about different plastic categories.
Avoid bringing contaminated or mixed materials—they can’t be recycled.

✅ Be part of the solution