Isla Mujeres Collects Over 160,000 Tons of Waste in Five Years

Municipal sanitation workers sweeping a street and loading solid waste into a collection truck on Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo

Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo — Municipal crews on Isla Mujeres have collected more than 160,000 tons of solid waste over the past five years as part of a permanent cleanup and maintenance program run by the local government led by Mayor Atenea Gómez Ricalde.

Through the Directorate General of Public Services, workers sweep streets, avenues, public spaces and high-traffic areas every day. They also prune trees and maintain green spaces across the municipality.

Seven Routes on the Island, Six on the Mainland

Seven collection routes cover the island zone and six serve the mainland zone, reaching communities throughout the municipality.

The effort is paired with a permanent bulky-waste program, known locally as descacharrización, that visits neighborhoods twice a week to remove furniture, utensils and other discarded items that can collect water and become mosquito breeding grounds. Over the past five years, that program has hauled away more than 4,850 tons of such items.

Gómez praised the workers who keep public spaces in order. “Behind a clean street, a well-kept park or the collection of our waste are women and men who start work very early and who give their best for Isla Mujeres every day,” she said. “To all of them, our recognition.”

The mayor said her administration will keep strengthening public services with staffing, equipment and tools to address the municipality’s growth and needs.

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By Ana Reyes

Ana Reyes covers environmental policy, conservation initiatives, infrastructure projects, and political developments across the Yucatán Peninsula for Riviera Maya News & Events. She reports on issues from sargassum management and reef conservation to the Maya Train, coastal development, and state and federal policy affecting Quintana Roo and the broader peninsula.Ana has covered environmental and political news since 2023, tracking key developments in Mexico's environmental regulations, coral reef protection, coastal zone management, and the intersection of tourism development with conservation efforts. Her reporting spans from Cancun's hotel zone to the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve and the culturally significant regions of the Yucatán interior.Ana is fluent in English and Spanish, and draws from a wide range of sources including government environmental agencies, conservation organizations, academic researchers, and local community leaders to provide balanced, well-sourced coverage. She is particularly focused on how environmental policy decisions affect the daily lives of residents and the long-term sustainability of the region.For story tips: ana@rivieramayanews.mx