Tulum Cleans Up Illegal Dump Site Near El Cristal Cenote After Citizen Complaints

Tulum, Quintana Roo — Municipal workers have cleared an illegal dump site located along a dirt road next to El Cristal cenote in the Cristal neighborhood, following citizen complaints about accumulating waste in the area.

Personnel from the Municipal Public Services Department conducted cleanup and collection operations, removing bags of trash, cardboard, household waste, and bulky items including a refrigerator, which indicated the site’s recurrent use for illegal dumping.

Pollution Threat in Natural Area

The affected road is used daily by Tulum residents, making the presence of waste an environmental risk and direct impact on the natural surroundings near the cenote.

According to witness accounts, trash accumulation intensified in recent days, primarily during nighttime hours when people take advantage of lack of surveillance to discard waste.

Suspicions of Irregular Disposal

Residents noted that, in addition to household garbage, larger volume waste has been detected, raising suspicions about possible commercial activity involvement in irregular waste disposal.

Recurring Problem in Municipality

Although the area was cleaned and the roadway cleared, residents warned that this type of practice continues to repeat at various points throughout the municipality, particularly on dirt roads and areas near the jungle.

The situation reflects a persistent problem in waste management in Tulum, where despite having collection routes and containers, illegal dump sites continue to be detected impacting natural areas including cenotes and jungle ecosystems.