Garbage trucks and recycling in Puerto Vallarta

During the first week of January, garbage pickup in Puerto Vallarta was almost at a standstill.  It was estimated that 900 tons of garbage were left on the street corners of Puerto Vallarta during a three day period.  It was a rude awakening for Puerto Vallarta for the new year. Depending on the newspaper you would read, the local radio station you would hear or even information given by the new city mayor, Salvador Gonzalez Resendez, of the 35 garbage trucks that the Municipal Public Services Department had for garbage collection, 15 of them were in the shop for repairs.  Other reports mentioned more than 15 trucks in the shop for repairs.  Another report mentioned that only 5 garbage trucks were up and running.  Another, 13.  Roberto Gonzalez Gutierrez, the head of Public Services, stated that 2 garbage collection trucks a day were breaking down in mid-January.  Figures changed from day to day.  A lack of  “infrastructure” in garbage collection was lacking and 15 to 20 new garbage trucks would be required to solve the garbage collection problem in Puerto Vallarta it was estimated by Roberto Gonzalez.  In recent years, each new administration begins with the purchase of new garbage trucks.
While new garbage trucks are needed, are the compacting garbage trucks which have been purchased during the past administrations the type of vehicles which will lead the city into a sustainable recycling program which has been announced by the current and past administrations?  Article 59 of the State of Jalisco Waste Managment Law (Ley de Gestion Integral de los Residuos del Estado de Jalisco, Periodico Oficial del Estado de Jalisco, Sabado 24 Febrero de 2007, Tomo CCCLVI, 28 Seccion IV) provides some interesting information on the garbage trucks which should be used in the State of Jalisco.  Here is the Spanish original and an English translation of part of the article:
Articulo 59.  Los vehículos destinados a la recolección y traslado o transportación de residuos preferentemente deberán contar con contenedores distintos que hagan factible su acopio por separado.
Article 59.  Garbage trucks used to collect garbage and transfer or transport should, preferably, be constructed with separate containers to facilitate a recollection process of separation.
Compacting garbage trucks do not contain separate containers.  If both organic and inorganic material are collected at the same time, the possibility for separation and recycling of material is easily lost.  If organic or inorganic material are collected separately, and are still compacted, much of the value of the material is also lost.  Will the present administration purchase more compacting garbage trucks when the state law mentions garbage trucks with separate containers?
It is interesting why the word “preferably” has been included in the state law.  As explained by SEMADES (State Ecology Department), since the law applies to all the municipalities of the state, and there are many small towns that only have one or two garbage trucks and very limited budgets, they could not obligate all the towns of the state to change to garbage trucks with separate containers.  As explained by the Municipal Administration of Puerto Vallarta under the past administration of Lic. Javier Bravo Carabajal, the “preferably” allowed the city government to buy any type of garbage truck it wanted and they would be within the law.
Of course Puerto Vallarta needs more garbage trucks.  However, if the municipal government is serious about recycling, it should buy garbage trucks with separate containers or implement a system which will not combine organic and inorganic material.  The municipal government should also provide information to the public so that any resident who wants to can do their own recycling at home and in the community.
For any recycling program to be successful, the participation of the community will be essential.  Hopefully, the authorities will be able to clearly show the residents of Puerto Vallarta how we can begin and maintain this most important process of waste management for the benefit of the city.