Ecologia Industrial y Marina del Caribe, SA de CV (Ecomar), a waste hauling company on Cozumel Island (Mexico), has been penalized for operating unlawfully. German Yanez Mendoza, the Director of Ecology, confirmed that Ecomar has been fined for illegally bringing garbage, including recyclable waste, from cruise ships to the island and using hidden collection centers.
Yanez Mendoza stated that he is unsure whether some of the waste was stored in Cozumel's Recyclable Materials Collection Center (CAMAR). Earlier this week, Ecomar received a fine for their improper handling of cruise ship waste. The fine, issued on May 22nd, was imposed on Eduardo Puente Garcia, the company's representative.
Following reports of violations on May 16th, Ecomar was investigated, which involved tracking their route from the ship loading dock to the sanitary landfill and a vacant lot in Felix Arturo Gonzalez Canto. The company was summoned to appear before the Department, giving them a week to provide the necessary permits for their waste removal service. However, as they failed to comply, they were fined and banned from using the Cozumel dump for cruise ship waste disposal.
Yanez Mendoza clarified that his department can only issue fines for operating without permits, and any further infractions should be addressed by the state and federal government.