Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Mayor Salvador Gonzalez Resendiz has launched a new trash separation and collection program in Puerto Vallarta, which will be implemented in three stages, thereby providing better service to citizens.

In a recent address to City Hall officials and members of the press, the Mayor stated that an early stage will soon be underway in 40 percent of the municipality, where collection days, routes and schedules will be modified. The new waste separation program will be emphasized and the trash will be collected in different ways, which means that the population's assistance and knowledge of the new system's workings is necessary.

"We know that this process is not easy and we realize that in some Mexican cities it has taken years to streamline the trash separation system, but we truly need this to happen rapidly in Puerto Vallarta. We know that it is not an easy task, so it will be through the efforts of the Social Development and Public Municipal Services agencies that these tasks of learning will be promoted in each of the homes and businesses of the city," he said.

Puerto Vallarta Public Services Executive, Roberto González Gutiérrez, disclosed the details of this new system and the exhaustive analysis which has been carried out in coordination with the Proactive company, which will be responsible for incorporating the change in collection methods and installing the recyclable waste containers.

A pilot program for the separation of trash is to be taught in the local schools, which will differentiate the three stages of the project and teach them an efficient and healthy waste management system.

To accomplish these goals, Gutiérrez indicated that the municipality is divided into two sections: the northern area, which comprises the Pitillal River to Ixtapa, Las Palmas and Tebelchía; and the southern area, which extends from the Pitillal River to Mismaloya and Boca de Tomatlán.

In the northern area, the collection days will be on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and, when required, it on Saturdays. In the southern area, the service will provided on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, which scheduled 27 new routes with working hours from 6 am to 2 pm and from 6 pm to 2 am. In the case of the downtown and tourist areas, collections will be made daily in two shifts.

This new system will be implemented by a sidewalk system of containers. Routes are now extended to cover more streets, thereby eliminating street corners as collection centers, which has been a long-time concern of residents.

Gutiérrez explained that the transition to this mode of collection will be as follows: in the first stage, 3 compactors with rear cargo units and bins will be installed in the downtown area; in the second phase, 4 compactors will be added and 460 containers of 120 liters will be divided among the homes; the third stage will be 8 trucks and the installation of 100 containers of 1100 litres, which will be placed in the various colonies and schools.

The official stressed that on the issue of waste separation, actions must be taken to educate the community on differentiating between organic, inorganic and sanitary waste.

This will result in important advantages such as the reduction of pollutants and the increase of recyclable materials. Currently, only 10 percent of recyclable materials are recovered. The studies also showed that the operation costs of the landfill, El Gavilán, will be decreased and will allow the money that is saved by the City Council to be used in other needed areas. It will also decrease the amount of land-fill required for the disposal of trash.

The new system will formally begin in the colonies of Central Ixtapa I, University, University II, La Mina, La Mina II, May 1, May 1 adjacent, Palmares University, Vista Hermosa, San Francisco, Jardines, Villas Ixtapa, Los Tamarindos, Costa Dorada, Paseos University, Llanitos, Llanitos adjacent, Central Ixtapa II, Potrerito, La Vía, 24 de Febrero, La Esperanza, IDIPE, La Colonia, Niños Héroes, Paraíso, Las Flores, Santo Domingo, Palmar de Ixtapa, Centro de Salud, Ampliación Centro de Salud, Santo Domingo II, Las Palmas de arriba y Tebelchía, where the service days are Monday, Wednesday and Friday, between 6:00 am and 2:00 pm.