The ban on shops providing non-biodegradable plastic bags for their clients' purchases is in force in the Mexican capital, but is not enough to get solid waste management under control, say environmentalists. “It's important that we take these steps towards eliminating waste, but it's worrisome that it is an isolated effort. It is a small part of what should be an integral program of waste management,” Patricia Ramos, coordinator of the solid waste campaign of the environmental group Greenpeace, told Tierramérica.

The ban on plastic bags is only in force in the capital, and now the municipal government has 90 days to publish the reglamentation of the Solid Waste Law, which will determine, among other things, which materials are biodegradable.

Mexico City generates some 12,000 tons of garbage each day.