Our Story

Although the smell of burning trash is an all too familiar part of life in Mexico, the persistent, insidious smoldering of the San Jose del Cabo dump is a deadly problem.

The dump, which has grown exponentially in the past six years, borders and threatens to spill over onto valuable private property, so officials turn their backs to the smoking inferno engulfing the perimeter. As a result, toxic fumes saturate our air day and night. It is widely known that the burning of plastics, paints, rubber, sewage and all manner of hazardous material releases chlorinated organic chemicals known as dioxins into the atmosphere. These settle on our water, plants, animals and are breathed into our lungs, increasing risk of cancer, harming the immune system and causing developmental problems in children.

The smoke regularly covers Los Zacatitos and La Laguna at night and blows into the thriving Mexican town of Palo Escopeta and San Jose itself during the day.

Three parrots have died here and respiratory problems among the residents are increasing daily.

For health concerns, some residents adandoned their dream homes and left the area.

This burning is a breach of international environmental law. Our very basic need for clean air is being denied. We have been fighting this issue for six years. It is time to end the problem once and for all.