New Transfer Station and Sorting Plant Azcapotzalco, Mexico City

In July 2021 the new “Transfer Station and Sorting Plant Azcapotzalco” was inaugurated in Mexico City, which annually saves around $88,976,000 MXN (3,742,375 Euros) through the sale of recyclables, avoidance of transport, and reduction of final disposal.

Secretaría de Obras y Servicios. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Mexico

Source: Estación de Transferencia y Planta de Selección Azcapotzalco – Secretaría de Obras y Servicios. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Mexico 
 
Prior to the existence of the Azcapotzalco station, there was the transfer station "Colonia del Gas”. This station had the capacity of processing 800 tons per day and an area of 6,543 square meters. At this transfer station no recyclables were separated, transportation vehicles waited on streets surrounding the station, and it had a low reception level. 
 
In comparison, the new transfer station and sorting plant Azcapotzalco has a capacity of processing 1,000 tons per day, but a capacity of reception of 1,400 tons, 400 thereof arrive previously separated as organic waste and are later transferred to the compost plant.  The area of the station and plant is 11,386.38 square meters, while the area of construction is 11,149 square meters and a sum of 385 million MXN (16.19 million Euros) was invested. In addition, what makes this transfer station to be distinctive is that it is also a sorting plant, meaning the transport in between the transfer station and sorting plant is no longer needed.
 
Some of the characteristics of the station and plant are:
  • The technology of the plant allows the segregation of solid urban residues.
  • Automatic separation of different products such as aluminium, ferrous materials, plastics, film plastics and others. After mechanical processing,it allows for manual separation for a better use of recyclable products.
  • Recovers the fuel derived from residues with high calorific value.
  • The most modern plant in Latin America.
  • It is a plant with Stadler technology, one of the most renowned worldwide in the field of recycling sorting plants and Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF)recovery plants.
The technology from Stadler in the plant partly consists of automatic sprinklers that capture the odour particles during operation hours, a smart system of mist points to apply germicide and air freshener, roofs designed to avoid residue dispersion and acoustic insulation preventing noise propagation.
The mechanical separation is carried out with 26 units of equipment. The mobile equipment consists of 2 waste handlers, 1 skid steer loader, 1 tire loader, and 2 fork lifts. The mechanical separation process is visible in the following diagram:
 
 
 
Source: Estación de Transferencia y Planta de Selección Azcapotzalco – Secretaría de Obras y Servicios. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Mexico
 
As mentioned before, the processing capacity includes 1000 tons per day. From this total, 240 tons are dismissed for final disposal, 60 tons are recovered from recyclable subproducts, 300 tons are recovered from subproducts for refuse derived fuels, and 400 tons are organic residues.

Some of the benefits and savings generated by the plant are as follows:
  • Waiting line of transportation vehicles inside the premises
  • Increment of collection in the four mayorships that serves
  • Avoidance of transportation to sorting plants
  • Reduction on final disposal of solid residues
  • Recovery of recyclables and RDF
 
 
 Source: Estación de Transferencia y Planta de Selección Azcapotzalco – Secretaría de Obras y Servicios. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Mexico


References
 
Jefatura de Gobierno, Estación de Transferencia y Planta de Selección Azcapotzalco, la más moderna de América Latina: Sheinbaum Pardo, 25.07.2021.
Secretaría de Obras y Servicios – Gobierno de la Ciudad de México "Estación de Transferencia y Planta de Selección Azcapotzalco”.  https://www.obras.cdmx.gob.mx/storage/app/media/00025%20julio%20planta/250721estacion-de-transferencia-y-planta-de-seleccion-azcvf-4.pdf
Castro, A. A. (24.08.2021) Tecnología de reciclaje mecánico de Stadler en planta de Azcapotzalco. México: Plastics Technology Mexico. https://www.pt-mexico.com/noticias/post/tecnologia-de-reciclaje-mecanico-de-stadler-en-planta-de-azcapotzalco
https://www.obras.cdmx.gob.mx/terminos-y-condiciones

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