Vacant lots have become a recurring problem in Rosarito when nearby residents turn them into clandestine dumping sites, a serious challenge for the city’s Urban Services Department.

Mauricio Aguirre, head of the department, said the city receives multiple reports of the issue. To address it, officials will roll out programs to involve residents in keeping these areas clean and will install signs warning of fines, along with phone numbers for reporting people who dump trash in streets and vacant lots.

“Unfortunately, we go in and clean, but within two or three weeks the area is filled with garbage again. That’s why we’ll be putting up signs with reporting numbers, and we’ll also encourage residents to help preserve and protect clean areas,” Aguirre explained.

He noted that fines for being caught dumping garbage or debris in public spaces can reach up to 2,400 pesos (around $140). Inspectors respond when citizens report violations, as happened recently in the Lomas Altas II neighborhood.

Aguirre added there is no excuse for residents to claim that the landfill is too far away or that they lack transportation such as a pickup truck to dispose of waste. To help, the city is working with GEN to place additional containers in key areas.

Separately, Aguirre acknowledged that garbage collection was delayed in some neighborhoods due to heavy rain last Thursday, but said the service has since been restored.