Three municipalities in Chihuahua receive NADB grants for sanitary landfill equipment

On December 12, 2016, the North American Development Bank (NADB) and the State of Chihuahua signed three grant agreements totaling US $1.1 million to finance the purchase of equipment to facilitate the operation of sanitary landfills in the communities of Ahumada, Nuevo Casas Grandes, and Madera. 

The event, held at the State Government offices housed in what is known as the Pueblito Mexicano building in Ciudad Juarez, was chaired by Governor Javier Corral, along with Maria Elena Giner, General Manager of the Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC), and NADB Deputy Managing Director Alex Hinojosa, as well as the mayors of the three municipalities benefited –Marcelo Lopez from Ahumada, Jaime Torres Amaya from Madera, and David Martinez from Nuevo Casas Grandes.

The mayors signed agreements that will allow them to purchase equipment and trucks for the efficient operation of landfills recently constructed in each one of the municipalities.

These three municipalities, which together total more than 87,800 residents, have 100% waste collection coverage; however, collected waste is disposed of in open-air dumpsites, so new sanitary landfills were built in each municipality using federal funding awarded by Mexico’s Secretariat of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), as well as municipal resources. The State Government is working with the respective municipal authorities to close the dumpsites once the landfills become operational.

The three landfill equipment projects sponsored by the respective municipalities received approval for their certification and financing in June 2016. Grant funding is being provided by the NADB through its Community Assistance Program (CAP).

“These grants will complement the funding needed to optimize landfill operations,” said Mr. Hinojosa. “We are pleased to have partnered with all three levels of government so that these facilities may function at 100% efficiency.” He also said in an interview that the CAP is a program created by the NADB in 2012 “to assist small communities, with a major focus on water and waste management projects.”

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiary municipalities, the Mayor of Nuevo Casas Grandes, David Martinez, said: “Our municipality only had an open-air dumpsite and a landfill that is currently underutilized, and with the new equipment, we will now have a landfill in good working conditions, thus preventing pollution.”

“If there is no proper landfill management, or if this type of infrastructure is not available, residents are exposed to pollution and health problems,” said the BECC General Manager in an interview. “With the support of the BECC and NADB, these three municipalities will have the necessary equipment to properly operate their landfills.”

Governor Javier Corral referred in his remarks to the close relationship that exists between his administration and the BECC and NADB. He said that he sees in Maria Elena Giner “a great ally of comprehensive sustainable development for Chihuahua and the northern border.” He also believes that “achieving the collaboration of the North American Development Bank, an institution that works as the financial arm of the BECC, is of utmost importance.”

In closing, the Governor said the grant funds earmarked for supplying equipment to these landfills, “represent a great opportunity, especially in light of the conditions currently experienced by the state.”

For interviews and video of the event, please use the following links:
Chihuahua municipalities receive NADB grants for solid waste equipment (Spanish) 
Interview with Chihuahua Governor Javier Corral (Spanish) 
Interview with Nuevo Casas Grandes Municipal President (Spanish) 
Interview with BECC General Manager (Spanish) 
Interview with NADB Deputy Managing Director (Spanish)