Organizations and communities from various regions of Puebla denounced alleged environmental damage, water pollution, and health problems associated with the operation of landfills and garbage dumps in the state during the Second Forum of Peoples Organized for Life and Against Dumps, held in San Juan Acateno, municipality of Teziutlán.
Representatives from communities and collectives in Hueytamalco, Chignautla, Ixtacamaxtitlán, Tlatlauquitepec, Tehuacán, Cuetzalan, San José Chiapa, and the Cholula Region participated in the joint statement, pointing to alleged negligence by federal and state environmental authorities regarding the pollution generated by dumps and landfills.
Among the main concerns expressed were the contamination of aquifers and springs by leachate, as well as the presence of illnesses that communities link to waste management. In Ixtacamaxtitlán, residents reported cases of leukemia allegedly linked to the consumption of contaminated water, while in Tlatlauquitepec, they denounced childhood cancers associated with pollution and pesticides.
The communities also warned about health risks stemming from toxic gases, fires, and the proliferation of harmful wildlife in garbage dumps. As an example, they mentioned the fire that occurred last February at the San José Chiapa landfill.
In Hueytamalco, residents expressed concern about the potential consumption of contaminated water from San Juan Acateno, where a garbage dump operates. They reported that during the rainy season, waste is washed into low-lying areas, and they have found debris such as batteries, diapers, and plastic bags.
The statement also refers to Tehuacán, where organized communities have obtained injunctions against environmental authorities, although they allege that pollution continues despite the complaints filed.
The organizations also questioned the project called “Circular Economy Development Hub for the Well-being of Puebla” (PODECIBI), arguing that it could exacerbate environmental problems in the San José Chiapa region and surrounding municipalities. Therefore, they demanded the cancellation of the megaproject and its replacement with community and municipal waste management programs.
Among their demands, the communities requested environmental remediation of closed landfills, the permanent closure of sites that—they assert—operate irregularly, ongoing environmental education programs, and restrictions on single-use products.
The participants also announced the Third Forum of Organized Communities for Life and Against Landfills, scheduled for July 25, 2026, in San José Chiapa.
Source: elpopular
