The tourism development model in Tulum has been very aggressive towards the environment. Accelerated and disorderly urban growth has contributed to the degradation of ecosystems. The image of a tropical paradise place with which destiny is sold no longer corresponds to reality. The deterioration is palpable.

Among the priorities of the deterioration is the contamination of the aquifer, the only source of fresh water that we have. Water pollution affects not only the health of the population but also impacts coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, beaches and the reef. The lack of wastewater treatment systems and the poor management of solid waste are the main causes of aquifer contamination.

We are currently promoting the Puntos Limpios program and we are contributing to the development of the Municipality’s Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Program.

Restoration and protection of mangroves and blue carbon ecosystems in North Yucatan

Mangroves are an extremely important ecosystem to the Yucatan Peninsula. They act as a barrier from storm surges and hurricanes to the local communities and environment, act as a breeding ground for countless species of fish that fishermen rely on, are an incredibly biodiversity rich environment, help mitigate climate change through carbon capture, and help maintain good water quality in their surroundings.

Due to the constructions of roads and coastal communities mangrove ecosystems have been degraded. In collaboration with CINESTAV and rePlanet, we are looking to restore these degraded ecosystems and protect them long term to benefit local ecosystems and to generate Carbon Credits to directly benefit local communities.

The carbon capture credits are going to be certified by Plan Vivo, which requires that at least 60% of the income raised by the sale of carbon credits be paid to local communities.

We are looking to implement the program in Dzilam de Bravo and other, yet to be established, locations.

Puntos Limpios Tulum

The main objective of the Puntos Limpios program is to establish, in all the neighborhoods of the city of Tulum, small infrastructures for the collection of recyclable materials and thus prevent them from ending up in the sea or in the municipal landfill. The establishment of the collection modules is accompanied by an intense campaign of awareness, education and training, so that the residents of the neighborhoods become involved in the program and operate their Punto Limpio in a self-managed way.

Thanks to citizen pressure, the municipal government is currently preparing the Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Program (PGIRS) and establishes the Solid Waste Subcommittee. The Cooperative has participated in the process by conducting a social diagnosis and supporting the technical diagnosis, tasks that it carries out supported by private financing.

Derived from the social diagnosis, a communication and education program is now being implemented that must accompany the implementation of the PGIRS.

Alliance is formed by:

We currently have 10 Puntos Limpios modules installed in the following locations: Villas Tulum, Guerra de Castas, Tumbenkaa, Parque dos Aguas, Parque Rotarios, Unidad Deportiva, Ya’ax Tulum, Maya Pax, Palmas and Huracanes. Thanks to all of these modules we were able to collect over 13,000kg of recyclable materials in 2021.

The installation and operation of Puntos Limpios is being promoted in 12 neighborhoods of the municipality.

If you’d like to find out more information about Puntos Limpios, including their locations and accepted materials, check out the program’s website. The program also has it’s own Facebook and Instagram pages where we post news, updates, and tips!