Ecobreves – MEXICO: Extension for Overflowing Garbage Dump

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

MEXICO CITY, Dec 15 2008 (IPS) - For the fifth time in five years, the Mexico City government has won a postponement for closing down the Bordo Poniente, the capital's largest garbage dump, which is full beyond capacity. Since the mid-1980s, most of the 12,000 tons produced daily by Mexico City has been deposited there.

Bordo Poniente is on the verge of collapse, and postponing its closure is bad news that proves the authorities see waste management as a low priority, environmental engineer and university professor Oscar Colima told Tierramérica.

The municipal government was able to convince a court to suspend the closure of the dump, scheduled for January, arguing that it would provide time to prepare new dumps that are in compliance with environmental standards.