Composta SMA, interview with Daniela Del Villar

Published April 20, 2023

By Rodrigo Díaz Guerrero

It is more than known that our society is going through an unprecedented ecological crisis, that if we do not change our consumption habits there will be no turning back. Much is said, little is done. That is why those who move from words to action stand out for possessing a consistent will. This is the case of Daniela Del Villar, who for a year and a half has focused her energy on the Composta SMA project (which already has 250 subscribers) and which, in addition, is an alternative for those who do not know how to cooperate in ecological terms.

RDG: Could you tell us what the SMA Compost project is about?

DDV: Composta SMA is a home organic waste collection service, open to the public in San Miguel de Allende. Anyone can participate. We spend every week collecting waste from the houses and composting it in our recycling plant where we give it proper treatment and turn it into fertile soil that we return to subscribers.

RDG: When and how did Composta SMA start?

DDV: In 2017 I founded a community house in Colonia Guadalupe to host artists and scientists who volunteered with various organizations and, of course, we had a composting system. Several neighbors were interested and brought us their waste and so, with 15 people, Composta SMA began. From there came years of researching and understanding the waste crisis here and in the world. Knowing the statistics and the realities we realized that we are immersed in an ecological crisis and that we wanted to have a more significant impact. We formally opened the SMA Compost service to the public in 2021. During this time we have received a lot of support from the community in the form of cheers and volunteering.

RDG: Who is in charge of the project?

DDV: While the idea of having the collection service is mine and I am the one who sustains it, I have a wonderful team and decades of experience with a group of friends / advisors who are experts in compost and ecology issues. We have learned a lot and the best part is to be able to work with people so aware that they are willing to take the step to make a healthy future, not with good wishes but with concrete and tangible actions, taking responsibility for the impact of their waste. Landfills are the second most important generator of methane gas in the world and the leading cause of air, water and soil pollution in many communities.

RDG: How do you see in general terms the compost culture in SMA and in Mexico?

DDV: The population knows what we have to do; We know that garbage is not thrown on the street, we know that disposables are garbage before we buy them, we know that plastic pollutes a lot, we know that we have to separate the garbage. Our problem is that we act like children thinking that someone else has to solve it, that someone is going to come and save us: the government, the company, the expert, the neighbor. What we lack as a community is to understand that we have power, that every action is a vote, that every peso we spend is a vote, and we are voting for a future. We can deliberately vote for the future we want and not let our actions ruin us. Of all the garbage that is produced, 50% is organic waste that can be composted, giving a good treatment to our organics we solve more than half of the equation. For those who feel the call of compost and want to start, we are at your command. We can advise them to do it at home or community, and for those who do not have space and time, we have the weekly collection service that every month gives you your finished compost.

Join this great project!: www.compostasma.com

Composta SMA / Composting Program for San Miguel de Allende

♦ What is it? Weekly organic waste collection service at home with buckets that returns compost every month.

♦ Where? San Miguel De Allende (service delimited to an area 8 kms from Centro.  Service available for los Frailes)

♦ How much? $ 500 pesos for registration and $ 360 monthly payment ($ 90 for each collection)

• • Registration is  $ 500 pesos and it is a single payment.

  • For the monthly payment we will send you a payment request to your email.

• ♦ How large?  The bucket is 20 liters.

  • You can get together with friends and neighbors and share the expense.

  • You do not need to fill it, the amount we collect is recorded and it is the amount of compost you will get.

  • You can also become a green guardian and make your group of friends and be a collection point.You will get many benefits.

♦ How?  Subscribe by clicking visiting our website.

♦ Share this page with your neighbors and friends so that together we can reach our goal! A GREENER FUTURE