Clandestine garbage dumps in the Yucatan municipalities, an environmental problem that worsens

Merida, Yucatan, (January 14, 2022).- Very few municipalities have implemented mechanisms to address clandestine dumps in the municipalities and it is necessary to address this problem that is growing significantly across the state.

Sayda Rodríguez Gómez, Secretary of Sustainable Development (SDS) pointed out that clandestine garbage dumps are a problem on highways, mountain areas, and sidewalks, it is a program that is getting worse and that in this case, it is up to each municipality to address the problem locally.

She explained that the Mexican Official Standard on solid waste reiterated the (SDS) establishes this responsibility, as well as the garbage collection service and the final disposal of this waste.

She said that the state government gave the 106 municipalities their corresponding Solid Waste Management Program and the accompaniment to address a series of basic problems that have been generated.

She added that the mayors have requested training and alternatives to attacking this problem, for which a series of needs have been met that allow care tasks to be carried out and to prioritize the conditions so that these dumps and garbage dumps have greater control and security for the population.

Some important achievements have been made in the municipalities of Tekax and Progreso, where the authorities have become much more involved in dealing with these problems and have started programs to care for the environment, greater training for the population, and awareness mechanisms for citizens to help solve the problem.

One of the examples she said is “Clean Tekax” where citizens and authorities of that municipality go out to clean and collect waste. In Progreso another type of cleanup proposal was generated, there is vigilance through the Ecological Police to sanction those who throw garbage.

Another case is that of Acanceh, which works on the issue of final disposal of waste”, she explained.

Rodríguez Gómez indicated that the SDS is making progress in the dialogue with the municipal authorities.

The change is notorious and in 2021 progress was made in the presence and image of coastal areas with the sanitation of beaches, mangroves, and cenotes, a task that is being fulfilled with the support of volunteers and environmental groups concerned about addressing these problems, she commented.

TYT Newsroom