The efforts to transform Tijuana into one of Mexico’s cleanest metropolitan areas have earned international recognition, as Mayor Ismael Burgueño received the prestigious 2026 Waste Management Career Achievement Award this Wednesday for the city’s flagship program, “Tijuana: Ciudad Limpia” (Tijuana: Clean City).
The mayor credited the award to a renewed partnership between local government and residents, highlighting dramatic improvements in service coverage since taking office.
“When we took office, waste collection coverage stood at only 60%. Today, we have reached 98%,” the mayor stated. “This effort has allowed us to build a cleaner, more organized, and healthier city, eliminating sources of infection and reducing pollution across Tijuana.”
The administration’s cornerstone achievement involved a complete operational overhaul of the city’s sanitation system. Officials expanded collection routes to 343, a decision Mayor Burgueño described as challenging but essential.
“Expanding to 343 collection routes was a significant challenge, but we understood it would transform daily life for thousands of families,” he explained. “When we strengthen public services, we directly enhance people’s quality of life.”
According to the mayor, the strategy was shaped by direct citizen input from the administration’s earliest days.
“The Municipal Development Plan made it clear that waste collection was the number one priority for our residents. In just seven months, we designed and implemented this strategic framework,” he said.
The honor, presented by DS LATAM ISWA Mexico during the International Waste Management Congress and Waste Expo, recognized city government and the Metropolitan Institute of Planning of Tijuana (IMPLAN) for outstanding achievements in the category of cities with over 500,000 inhabitants.
Juan Diego Mascareño, Executive Director of IMPLAN, accompanied the mayor at the ceremony and emphasized that the program’s success rests on rigorous technical planning, territorial evidence, and active community participation.
With this international recognition, Tijuana’s government reaffirms its commitment to advancing comprehensive strategies that strengthen public services and cement the city’s reputation as a clean, efficient, and forward-thinking urban center.
