The Government of Cozumel has removed another 24 tonnes of waste tires from the island as part of its ongoing environmental protection, public health and special waste management efforts. The tires were sent to the Geocycle co-processing plant in Macuspana, Tabasco, where they will be used in industrial processing rather than remaining in uncontrolled storage or disposal areas. The municipal action, led by the administration of Mayor José Luis Chacón through the Centro de Acopio de Materiales Reciclables, supports Cozumel’s strategy to reduce tire accumulation, prevent illegal dumping and limit health risks linked to mosquito breeding. The program also connects local tire collection with circular economy and tire recycling routes by moving end-of-life tires from the island to an authorized recovery destination.

Twenty-four tonnes removed from the island

The latest shipment involved 24 tonnes of discarded tires collected in Cozumel. The municipality said the action forms part of permanent efforts to strengthen environmental protection, prevent public health risks and promote responsible handling of special management waste.

By removing tires from the island, the local government aims to avoid the accumulation of waste that can affect urban image, create sanitation concerns and increase the risk of uncontrolled disposal.

Tires sent to Geocycle in Tabasco

The waste tires were transported to the Geocycle co-processing plant in Macuspana, Tabasco. Co-processing allows selected waste materials to be used in industrial processes, including cement production, where they can replace part of conventional fuel or raw material inputs.

For end-of-life tire management, this route can provide a controlled recovery option when local recycling capacity is limited. It also helps reduce the need to store waste tires in places where they may become environmental or health hazards.

CAMAR coordinates tire collection and shipment

The operation was carried out through Cozumel’s Centro de Acopio de Materiales Reciclables, known as CAMAR. The municipal collection center has been involved in organizing tire removal and sending collected materials off the island for appropriate treatment.

Such coordination is particularly important in island communities, where space limitations and transport logistics can make waste tire management more difficult than in mainland locations.

Program supports public health prevention

Discarded tires can collect rainwater and become breeding sites for mosquitoes. In tropical and coastal regions, this can increase public health concerns related to diseases such as dengue, Zika and chikungunya.

The removal of accumulated tires therefore supports both environmental management and health prevention. Regular tire collection and shipment can reduce potential breeding sites while helping keep public spaces cleaner.

Action forms part of broader waste strategy

The Cozumel government has described tire removal as part of its broader commitment to environmental protection and sustainable waste management. The program seeks to prevent end-of-life tires from remaining in landfills, vacant lots or informal storage sites.

By directing the material to a co-processing facility, the municipality is turning a difficult waste stream into an industrial resource. This approach supports circular economy objectives by linking tire collection, waste management and recovery through an authorized processing route.

Island municipalities face specific tire waste challenges

Cozumel’s latest shipment highlights the particular challenges island municipalities face in managing waste tires. Tires are bulky, slow to degrade and costly to move, while limited local land availability makes long-term accumulation especially problematic.

The removal of another 24 tonnes shows the value of permanent collection programs and cooperation with downstream processors. For the tire recycling sector, such initiatives help ensure that end-of-life tires are collected, transported and recovered through organized systems rather than left to accumulate in the local environment.

Article source: Gobierno de Mexico.