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An official with the federal Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) is calling for better handling of hazardous waste in the border state of Tamaulipas. In recent comments to Mexican press, Ramon Antonio Sampayo Ortiz, the Tamaulipas state delegate for Semarnat, said only three waste storage facilities exist for the estimated 8 tons of hazardous wastes generated each year in Tamaulipas.

Said Sampayo, "They are explosives, corrosive substances, toxics and infectious biological agents mainly from hospitals and private doctors' offices that, in some cases, have to be taken to special confinement sites in the United States or Monterrey."

Sampayo identified the dumping of agro-chemicals and other hazardous wastes in household garbage as another problem. "We have many problems in municipalities where (wastes) wind up deposited in open-air dumps, putting the land, air and the water at grave risk of environmental contamination,” he said.

Sampayo said the border cities of Matamoros, Reynosa and Nuevo Laredo each have a special waste confinement facility, but more needs to be done statewide to address the hazardous waste issue. The municipalities of Victoria, Tampico and Madero have hazardous waste facilities in the works, Sampayo added.

The Semarnat state chief called on local governments to regard the safe disposal of hazardous waste as an important public policy priority alongside water, health, sanitation, and housing.

"We should be more aware while getting rid of the waste we produce," Sampayo said. "This will help result in good waste management and make sure it is deposited in the appropriate places."

Source: El Bravo, November 4, 2005.

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

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