Durán resumes garbage collection service after almost 20 days

Durán is resuming garbage collection services after a nearly 20-day hiatus, with private services from Consorcio Durán Limpio restarting on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. The suspension had created a significant sanitation crisis in the city.

Mayor Luis Chonillo announced the service's return on Monday afternoon, expressing gratitude to those who supported the contingency plan. He reiterated his commitment to institutional dialogue and technical discussions to resolve differences, though he offered no further specifics.

The suspension began on June 25, stemming from a municipal debt exceeding $9.7 million owed to Consorcio Durán Limpio for 58 unpaid invoices. This led to a critical situation where garbage accumulated on street corners, reaching over 300 tons daily and posing a severe public health risk.

In response to the escalating crisis, the city was placed under a state of emergency on July 1. Residents resorted to using lime to mitigate the strong odors emanating from the waste. The Municipality of Durán and the Guayas Prefecture collaborated on an action plan, utilizing dump trucks and heavy machinery for waste collection.

Beyond the garbage crisis, residents have also reported a lack of potable water, compounding the difficulties faced by the inhabitants who are suffering from the unpleasant smells of accumulated solid waste.