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Following the conclusion of the Day of the Dead celebrations, Mexico City’s Ministry of the Environment (SEDEMA) is calling on residents to responsibly dispose of their cempasúchil (marigold) flowers. Instead of sending these seasonal plants to landfills, citizens can take them to designated collection centers to be transformed into compost, helping to nourish the city’s soil.
Where to Drop Off Your Cempasúchil Flowers
SEDEMA has established several Environmental Culture Centers (CCA) and educational sites across the city to receive these plants throughout November 2026. The centers operate daily from 10:00 to 16:00.
Permanent Collection Locations (Open until Nov 30):
- CCA Yautlica: Iztapalapa
- CCA Ecoguardas: Tlalpan
- CCA Acuexcomatl: Xochimilco
- CCA Chapultepec: Second Section of Chapultepec Forest
- Educational Garden of the San Juan de Aragón Forest: Enter through Gate 7
Special Weekend Collection Events
For those unable to visit during the week, special collection events have been organized where both flowers and plastic pots can be dropped off:
- November 22, 2026: Sun Dial of Tlatelolco, 08:00 – 13:00.
Creative Ways to Reuse Cempasúchil at Home
If you prefer not to visit a collection center, you can give your flowers a second life at home:
- Seed Recovery: Dry the flower heads, crumble them, and store the seeds in newspaper to plant them next year.
- Natural Dye: Boil the dried petals in water to create a natural orange dye for fabrics.
- Homemade Insecticide: Macerate one kilogram of leaves and stems in a liter of water. Let it ferment for 24 hours, then add another liter of water. Use this mixture to spray your plants against pests.
Why Recycle?
The main goal of this campaign is to divert organic waste from landfills and recover seeds to support future planting initiatives. By composting, you help regenerate the city’s green spaces.
Source: Informador.mx
