Cancun Beach Cleanup Collects 48,000 Tons of Trash in 2026

Cancun, Quintana Roo — Municipal cleanup crews have hauled 48,000 tons of garbage from Cancun’s public beaches so far in 2026, officials said. That equals 68.5% of all beach waste collected during 2025.

Arturo Javier Quintero Díaz, acting director of the Public Services Department for the municipality of Benito Juárez, said crews collected more than 70,000 tons of beach garbage last year. Waste volumes typically double during school breaks and other periods of high tourism, he said.

“We’re at 48,000 tons so far this year,” Quintero Díaz said. “Last year we were above 70,000 tons.”

Delfines and Marlin beaches hit hardest

The department said Delfines and Marlin, the largest and most frequented stretches of shoreline, accumulate the most litter. It also reported a 30% drop in cigarette butts and broken glass containers on public beaches.

Quintero Díaz credited the improvement to constant supervision by Zofemat, the federal office that manages Mexico’s coastal land zone. Zofemat staff are stationed at beach entrances from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., telling visitors that smoking and glass containers are not allowed, he said.

The acting director said the municipality will keep those checkpoints in place to protect Cancun’s tourist beaches.