In 2024, Guadalajara, Mexico's second-largest metropolitan area, faced a growing waste crisis. Its 120 municipal markets generated 15 tons of food waste daily—rotting fruit and vegetable peelings, and discarded grains—while street sweepers collected another 10 tons of green waste: trimmings, grass clippings, and fallen leaves. For decades, 90% of this organic material had been sent to the La Brecha landfill, which was rapidly approaching capacity. With landfill taxes rising 20% annually and methane emissions from rotting waste exceeding national environmental standards, the city's Department of Environmental Services knew a radical solution was needed.
Initial attempts to manage this waste locally failed. A pilot composting project using manual bins was plagued by plastic and metal contamination, while the high moisture content of food waste (typically 75-80%) led to anaerobic decomposition, producing a foul odor and sparking complaints from nearby communities. The city sought a turnkey organic waste treatment system capable of processing at least 25 tons of waste per day, ensuring strict odor control and contaminant removal, and ensuring product quality that meets Mexico's NMX-AA-139-SCFI-2012 organic fertilizer standard.
After a rigorous evaluation of 17 international proposals, our company was selected for its customized solution. We designed a complete production line tailored to Guadalajara's unique waste composition: a two-stage dewatering system to reduce food waste moisture to 60%, a heavy-duty chain-type compost turner, and an automated packaging line with 20 kg and 50 kg bagging options.
