Cozumel Recycles 15 Tons of Plastic Weekly

Cozumel, Mexico — The Center for the Collection of Recyclable Materials (CAMAR) in Cozumel receives up to 15 tons of plastic per week from community clean-up campaigns and direct citizen deliveries. This effort aims to reduce pollution and prevent waste from ending up in the jungle, the sea, or the local landfill.

A Growing Stream of Waste

Francisco Abad Vázquez, the subdirector of CAMAR, explained that each week the center collects hard plastics, such as chairs, tables, lounge chairs, and other rigid objects, including waste from washing machines and refrigerators. It also receives soft plastics, such as PET and bottles from fabric softeners, bleach, and liquid detergent, all of which are separated on-site.

These plastics are sold to local and out-of-town companies. The revenue generated is used not for profit but to cover transportation costs and to remove the material from the island. This prevents the waste from becoming a pollutant and contributing to problems like mosquito proliferation. It also reduces the volume and weight of waste processed by PASA, the concessionary company responsible for the collection, transport, and final disposal of solid waste on the island.

Authorities are calling for reinforced environmental awareness to prevent plastics from ending up in the jungle or the sea. Last week alone, more than 20 tons of plastics, both rigid and soft, were removed from Cozumel. However, the volume continues to accumulate each week, necessitating a search for solutions to what is described as a problematic situation that could otherwise lead to serious contamination.

A Call for Increased Community Participation

The plastics arriving at CAMAR currently come from two sources: organized clean-up campaigns and direct deliveries from citizens or business owners. Despite this, a significant amount of plastic still ends up in the landfill or on the streets. Some of this waste is collected by informal waste pickers, known as "pepenadores," who then sell it to recycling companies. Yet, a large and unquantifiable percentage still ends up discarded in the jungle or vacant lots.

Abad Vázquez noted that this is also a problem of culture and awareness. He issued a call to the community to bring their plastics to CAMAR, where the materials will be given a final destination away from the island, preventing them from becoming pollutants in Cozumel's jungle or marine areas.