Municipal crews and volunteers in Cabo San Lucas removed roughly 250 tons of solid waste from the Leonardo Gastélum neighborhood on March 21, targeting one of the city’s most waste-burdened residential areas. More than 200 people took part in the intensive cleanup, which covered stages 1 and 2 of the colonia and included mechanical sweeping of about eight kilometers of streets.
Over 200 Workers Sweep Eight Kilometers of Streets
The operation combined manual trash collection with specialized sweeping machinery to clear debris from roads and public spaces. Leonardo Gastélum, also known as Colonia Leonardo Gastélum Villalobos, sits in Cabo San Lucas proper, away from the tourist corridor. The neighborhood is home to many of the workers who staff hotels, restaurants, and construction sites across Los Cabos.
Los Cabos has struggled with waste management for years, a problem made worse by rapid population growth and seasonal tourism surges. Beach cleanups after September 2024 rains pulled more than 140,000 pounds of trash from Cabo San Lucas shores alone. Spring break periods now generate roughly 100 tons of garbage on Los Cabos beaches each year, according to local authorities.
20 New Waste Collection Vehicles Planned
Environmental education director Cristina Núñez Cosío called on residents to separate household garbage and respect public spaces, especially to protect nearby marine environments. The Sea of Cortez coastline sits just a few kilometers east of the neighborhood, and runoff from inland colonias can carry debris into coastal waters.
The Los Cabos municipal government also announced plans to add 20 new waste collection vehicles to its fleet. The additions aim to strengthen ongoing debris removal operations across the municipality, which includes both Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo.
Last September, a separate mass cleanup drew more than 1,000 volunteers across 12 Cabo San Lucas neighborhoods. The latest effort in Leonardo Gastélum continues that pattern of targeted neighborhood drives, with municipal officials saying the campaign will expand to other colonias in coming weeks, according to BCS Noticias.