Volunteers Remove Nearly a Ton of Waste From Chuburná Mangrove in Environmental Cleanup

Chuburná, Yucatan — More than 100 volunteers removed nearly a ton of waste from the Chuburná mangrove during a coordinated environmental cleanup aimed at protecting coastal ecosystems and biodiversity.

The Yucatan Secretariat of Sustainable Development (SDS) organized the event in collaboration with Limpiemos Yucatán, Ecoce, A.C., the Intermunicipal Waste Management System (Siger-Metropolitano), and the Progreso municipal government. A total of 108 volunteers from educational institutions, businesses, and the general public participated, focusing on removing solid waste that directly harms the mangrove’s health and associated biodiversity.

Volunteers collected 951.7 kilograms of waste, including:

• 645.7 kg of general trash
• 295.3 kg of glass
• 7 kg of PET plastic
• 0.5 kg of HDPE plastic
• 3.2 kg of aluminum

The results show significant progress compared to the last cleanup at the same site in July 2025, when 1,886.8 kilograms of waste were removed. This indicates both the positive impact of continued efforts and the need for permanent measures to prevent waste accumulation in high-value environmental areas.

Francisco Javier Alfaro Espinosa, head of the SDS Department of Comprehensive Waste Management, thanked the volunteers for their contributions. “These actions result from collaborative work between public institutions, civil society organizations, the private sector, and citizens,” he said. “The constant participation of volunteers is crucial not only for removing waste but also for strengthening collective awareness about our responsibility in caring for our coastal ecosystems.”

Alfaro Espinosa explained that the Chuburná mangrove cleanup is part of ongoing state government efforts to protect Yucatan’s natural heritage, recognizing mangroves as natural barriers against climate change, biodiversity refuges, and sustenance for coastal communities.