# Latin American sanitation and waste management initiatives

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/latin-american-sanitation-and-waste-management-initiatives
> Updated: 2026-08-16T20:17:07.000Z. Sources: 31. Developments: 2.

Legislative and community-led sanitation and waste management initiatives continue to evolve across Latin America.

In Mexico, public health efforts remain tied to waste management. Coatzacoalcos and Jiménez have implemented programs to prevent dengue and eliminate mosquito breeding sites, while Matamoros continues cleaning and zoonosis campaigns. In Tulum, authorities have noted a significant drop in monthly waste collection, with volumes falling from peak levels of 8,000 tons to between 2,500 and 3,000 tons due to declining tourism activity. This decline is further attributed to low hotel occupancy and sargassum seaweed issues.

Recycling and circular economy projects are gaining momentum. In Argentina, the K’aux Cooperative and the Secretariat of Environmental Policies coordinated the first shipment of 24,500 kilograms of recovered cardboard from Ushuaia to the mainland. In Chile, a partnership between Walmart and Virutex aims to transform 1,000 kilograms of discarded plastic hangers into cleaning products. Recent Mexican efforts include Semarnat’s ‘Gol por el Ambiente’ campaign, which exceeded its plastic recycling goal by recovering over 644 kilograms, and the EcoCholula program in San Pedro Cholula, which promotes the separation of PET, glass, and aluminum.

Community-driven environmental actions and urban sanitation challenges persist. In Maracaibo, Venezuela, over 90 tons of waste were removed from mangroves, while Los Cabos has increased waste receptacles on beaches. In Nezahualcóyotl, Mexico, the Recicla-ON program has been joined to manage electronic waste and protect water resources. Meanwhile, residents in Cañón Rosarito conducted a large-scale cleaning operation to maintain ecotourism routes. Conversely, Bogotá, Colombia, faces a persistent waste crisis, with daily illegal dumping reaching 968 tons.

## Claims

- The municipal government aims to reduce dengue cases to zero through a coordinated strategy. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Dengue cases decreased by 63.3 percent during the first half of 2026 compared to the same period the previous year. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- In the Fovissste stages 1 and 2 neighborhoods, 20 tons of waste and 146 unused tires were collected. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- In August, 95 tons of waste and 2,350 tires have been collected. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Public cleaning workers were announced to receive a salary increase. (corroborated by 2 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-16: Regional environmental and economic updates across Mexico and Veracruz

Regional reports highlight a tourism-driven waste reduction in Tulum, Mexico, alongside various recycling and artisan support initiatives in Veracruz, Nezahualcóyotl, and San Pedro Cholula.

31 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/coatzacoalcos-conducts-waste-removal-to-combat-dengue

### 2026-08-06: Nuevo León and Chile consider new sanitation legislation

Nuevo León proposes allowing firms to treat and reuse wastewater, while Chile's Deputy Valdés seeks a law requiring free public restrooms in larger commercial venues.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nuevo-len-and-chile-consider-new-sanitation-legislation

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Cite as: Latin American sanitation and waste management initiatives. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/latin-american-sanitation-and-waste-management-initiatives