Quintana Roo Urged to Enforce Plastics Ban

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Araceli Ramírez, a representative of Ocean Conservancy, has issued a call for the law prohibiting single-use plastics in Quintana Roo to be respected and fully enforced, describing plastic as a tangible and growing threat that is also preventable.

"Plastic is a tangible and growing threat, the most prevalent in the entire world, but also a threat that we can prevent. We are all responsible for being part of the solution or for continuing to feed the problem," stated Ramírez.

She emphasized the need for a joint effort in the state, inviting all residents to participate in coastal cleanup events to understand the magnitude of the issue. "In Quintana Roo, we should make a joint effort, inviting all our inhabitants to participate in coastal cleanup events, to understand the magnitude of the problem. Because once you do this activity, your perception of the problem changes completely," she added.

In this regard, she announced a series of beach cleanups scheduled for the region. The events are set to take place on September 20 at Playa Tortugas and Playa Gaviota in Cancún from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. A cleanup in Tulum will also occur on September 20, from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. In Cozumel, the cleanup is scheduled for October 11 at Punta Sur from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m., and in the Riviera Maya on October 25 at a location yet to be confirmed. Cleanup activities are also planned for Chetumal and Isla Mujeres, with dates and locations to be announced at a later time.

Ramírez highlighted that while notable efforts are being made in Quintana Roo, the results are insufficient. "We are advancing in projects that look good, but we still need to make them effective. Currently, 60% of the waste collected on the beaches is plastic that should no longer be there," she noted.

She expressed frustration that the law banning single-use plastics, though in force, remains a challenge. "It is frustrating to see that, despite the legislation, we continue to find plastics on the beaches. Not only that, glass, which is also prohibited, continues to appear. This makes us question whether we are really applying the law as we should, or if we need to do more to ensure it is fully complied with," she stated.

Despite the progress, Ramírez underscored that much remains to be done to protect and conserve the coastlines. "It is necessary to continue fighting for a sea free of waste. For over 40 years, we have documented the main forms of trash that end up in our oceans, especially on beaches and in storm drains, and we remain committed to research and collaboration with the public and private sectors to solve this problem," she explained.

This year is special for the organization as it celebrates four decades of international efforts. Over these 40 years, Ocean Conservancy has organized beach cleanups and awareness events in 192 countries, achieving a global impact. In a single year, those countries produced 2.5 billion metric tons of waste, of which an estimated 8 million tons ended up in the ocean. Of that waste, 275,000 tons were plastic, making it the primary enemy.

"It is urgent to reduce the use of plastics, improve their management, and encourage reuse. It is no longer an option; it is a necessity," she concluded.