Cancún’s Palapas Park Nears Zero Plastics Target

Cancún, Mexico — The Benito Juárez City Council has set the end of January as the deadline for vendors at Palapas Park to complete the full migration to using biodegradable materials as part of the municipal “Zero Plastics” program, according to Gamaliel Canto Cambranis, director of Street Commerce.

Palapas Park, an Environmental Reference in Cancún

The official explained that this strategy is part of a comprehensive project to transform Palapas Park into an emblematic space for sustainability, order, and family coexistence. The actions are being developed in a coordinated manner between vendors, the Street Commerce Directorate, and the General Directorate of Ecology.

85% of Vendors Have Already Eliminated Single-Use Plastics

Currently, approximately 85% of the vendors operating in the park—primarily those selling marquesitas, churros, elotes, and snacks—have already replaced disposable plastics with biodegradable utensils.

The pending cases correspond mainly to businesses that require special containers, such as frappé-type beverages, for which the City Council is analyzing viable alternatives that comply with environmental regulations.

A Gradual Process with Legal Warnings

Canto Cambranis detailed that the program began in February of last year, with the dissemination of a decalogue for reducing plastic use, followed by a period of awareness-raising and formal exhortations.

Starting in September and October, legal notifications began to be issued, warning that non-compliance could result in sanctions applied by other competent agencies.

Coordinated Work with Ecology

The Commerce Director emphasized that the program is the result of a joint effort with the General Directorate of Ecology, which provides technical advice on suitable materials to replace single-use plastics.

Finally, he reiterated that the granted deadline seeks an orderly transition, expressing confidence that 100% of vendors will comply with the zero plastics scheme before the end of January, consolidating Palapas Park as an environmental model for other public spaces in Cancún.