Playa del Carmen, Q.R. — A 40 ton illegal garbage dump was shut down by municipal authorities Wednesday. The property was closed after neighbor complaints of illegal dumping of garbage and sargassum.
PDC Mayor Estefanía Mercado led the suspension and closure of the property during a tour Wednesday morning. Officials who toured the site confirmed it was very large and filled with garbage, discarded furniture, electronics and fresh sargassum.
“Those who harm Playa del Carmen through the mismanagement of garbage or the improper disposal of sargassum will face the consequences established by law,” she said.
Mayor Mercado said that there is ongoing coordination with the dump truck unions that comply with the requirements to dispose of the seaweed. She also noted that there are others, however, do not.
Municipal authorities found sargassum had been unloaded in the illegal dump outside of authorized sites.
The mayor sent a warning that her administration will not allow practices that violate environmental regulations or actions that pose a risk to public health or the natural environment of the municipality.
She pointed out that Playa del Carmen has an established final destination for sargassum disposal and dumping it in vacant lots or outside of the assigned site will result in a legal liabilities.
The site closed down Wednesday by municipal authorities is located in the far south western section of the city.
