By the end of this year, the Centro de Acopio de Nopal (Nopal Collection Center) in the borough of Milpa Alta will be able to generate its own electricity from the nopal (Opuntia cactus) waste and other plant waste, once the waste treatment plant installed by Suema is operational. Suema is a technology company founded by Jahir Mojica and a group of UNAM engineers.

In an interview, he explains that in the initial phase, with proper separation of waste, the resulting bio-gas can be used to generate 240 kWh per day, which would make the market electrically self-sufficient and would save the borough more than 72,000 pesos a month in energy costs and more than 96,000 pesos a month in the transport of the five tons of waste sent to the Bordo Poniente rubbish dump.

"The plan is to lower consumption by at least 50% and remove the cost of waste management," states the CEO of the microenterprise. After five months in operation, he will unveil the treatment plant in 2016 to officials and entrepreneurs, with the hope that this technology will be used in other markets in the capital.

Milpa Alta was chosen because "it is the borough that is best at separating its waste. They're doing things properly and they don't get rewarded for it, so this is a kind of justice. Furthermore, the market only gets in 'fair trade' products, which are sold directly, without middlemen. It's an ambitious goal, but we hope that Milpa Alta will be a gateway to the rest of Mexico City for this type of technological project."

Using the waste is the planned second phase. The compost resulting from the treatment will be offered to the nopal producers and will be used in the market itself to "green it up": the aim is to make the most of flat roofs and walls to make beautiful gardens and ecological areas; nice enough to attract a new type of customer that is not used to shopping in public markets.

The agreement was signed last November by Mexico City's government, via the Secretariat of Science and Technology (Seciti), and the borough of Milpa Alta.

The project had an initial stage of "social intervention" or communication with the residents and the market's board of directors, as well as a demo at Suema’s Querétaro plant. Each plant has a 20 year lifespan and the business model involves the sale and the preventive and corrective maintenance. The solution could also be adapted to shopping malls, restaurants, hotels, industrial canteens, corporate buildings and distribution centers which generate large amounts of organic waste.

For more information go to: http://www.suema.com.mx/

Angelica.pineda@eleconomista.mx

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