Tuesday, June 03, 2008
SWOP homepageFNS 6/3/08: Garbage Collectors vs. Green Automation
June 3, 2008
Tijuana News: Garbage Collectors vs. Green Automation
Professional trash scavengers known as pepenadores conducted a blockade June 2 of Tijuana’s municipal landfill for several hours, preventing garbage trucks from entering the facility. More than 600 people participated in the action to protest a new recycling program they contend will throw them out of work. As informal workers who make a living from gathering and selling recyclable materials, the disgruntled garbage collectors fear new machinery that processes cardboard and aluminum will result in their displacement.
Protest leader Mario Rodriguez charged that Tijuana’s municipal government had not complied with earlier promises to leave some materials for the pepenadores. Rodriguez contended that the city government was using new employees to recycle more than two tons of material every day. Advised of the blockade, Tijuana Mayor Jorge Ramos reiterated his disposition to negotiate with the protestors, but warned that force could be used to end the blockade and allow sanitation trucks back into the landfill.
After meeting with Department of Urban Development chief Marcos Sarabia, the protestors agreed to lift their blockade and resume negotiations on June 3. Sarabia said the city was willing to accommodate the needs of the
numerous landfill scavengers. “If it’s necessary, we’re going to put a recycling plant in the landfill so these people can have permanent work,” Sarabia vowed.
Although Mexican cities like Tijuana are barely ratcheting up formally-organized recycling programs, thousands of people across the country have long earned their livelihoods scavenging dumps for aluminum cans and other recyclables. Additionally, large public gatherings or scheduled events like the arrival of cruise ships to tourist ports attract individuals who scour the ground and poke through trash cans to recover goods that can be sold and recycled.
Sources: El Sol de Tijuana, June 3, 2008. Article by Fernando Barroso.
Frontera, June 2, 2008. Articles by Daniel Salinas.
Frontera NorteSur (FNS): on-line, U.S.-Mexico border news
Center for Latin American and Border Studies
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, New Mexico
For a free electronic subscription email
fnsnews@nmsu.edu
Tijuana News: Garbage Collectors vs. Green Automation
Professional trash scavengers known as pepenadores conducted a blockade June 2 of Tijuana’s municipal landfill for several hours, preventing garbage trucks from entering the facility. More than 600 people participated in the action to protest a new recycling program they contend will throw them out of work. As informal workers who make a living from gathering and selling recyclable materials, the disgruntled garbage collectors fear new machinery that processes cardboard and aluminum will result in their displacement.
Protest leader Mario Rodriguez charged that Tijuana’s municipal government had not complied with earlier promises to leave some materials for the pepenadores. Rodriguez contended that the city government was using new employees to recycle more than two tons of material every day. Advised of the blockade, Tijuana Mayor Jorge Ramos reiterated his disposition to negotiate with the protestors, but warned that force could be used to end the blockade and allow sanitation trucks back into the landfill.
After meeting with Department of Urban Development chief Marcos Sarabia, the protestors agreed to lift their blockade and resume negotiations on June 3. Sarabia said the city was willing to accommodate the needs of the
numerous landfill scavengers. “If it’s necessary, we’re going to put a recycling plant in the landfill so these people can have permanent work,” Sarabia vowed.
Although Mexican cities like Tijuana are barely ratcheting up formally-organized recycling programs, thousands of people across the country have long earned their livelihoods scavenging dumps for aluminum cans and other recyclables. Additionally, large public gatherings or scheduled events like the arrival of cruise ships to tourist ports attract individuals who scour the ground and poke through trash cans to recover goods that can be sold and recycled.
Sources: El Sol de Tijuana, June 3, 2008. Article by Fernando Barroso.
Frontera, June 2, 2008. Articles by Daniel Salinas.
Frontera NorteSur (FNS): on-line, U.S.-Mexico border news
Center for Latin American and Border Studies
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, New Mexico
For a free electronic subscription email
fnsnews@nmsu.edu
Labels: Envirionmental Justice, FNS, green economy, Green Jobs, US/Mexico Border, worker's rights
