Hidalgo Votes Down Ecological and Recycling Park Proposal

Mexico’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) and the Government of Hidalgo reported the conclusion of a citizen consultation on the proposed Ecological and Recycling Park in Hidalgo, a process designed to strengthen local democratic participation across three municipalities. Of the votes recorded, 4,334 people (35.35%) supported the project, while 7,736 voters (63.10%) opposed it. The Instituto Estatal Electoral de Hidalgo (IEEH) also reported 189 null ballots (1.54%).

Results varied by municipality, with Tula de Allende showing majority support, while Atitalaquia and Tlaxcoapan registered majority opposition among participants. According to official results released by the IEEH, voter turnout reached 8.77% of the eligible population. A total of 12,259 votes were cast from a nominal list of 139,831 residents across the three municipalities.

The consultation was convened by an interinstitutional committee and technically organized by the IEEH, which confirmed that the process adhered to principles of legality, transparency, inclusion, public disclosure, and accountability. The electoral body verified that 100% of the tally sheets from 78 polling stations were captured and validated, ensuring the integrity of the results.

In a joint statement, SEMARNAT and the Government of Hidalgo acknowledged the impartial role of the IEEH and thanked residents for their participation. Officials noted that the exercise reflects the federal administration’s approach to participatory governance, summarized by the principle: “With the people, everything; without the people, nothing.” While the consultation results are nonbinding, authorities stated that public opinion will be considered in future decisions regarding the park.

Despite this, strong support for the project had been expressed prior to the vote by Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Alicia Bárcena and Hidalgo Governor Julio Menchaca Salazar. Given the consultation’s low turnout of less than 9%, it remains uncertain whether the results will impact the project’s implementation.

During an informational event organized in Hidalgo, Bárcena described the initiative as “a historic opportunity to settle an environmental debt with the Tula region,” highlighting the area’s decades of industrial pollution. “This state was treated as a sacrifice zone, and that cannot continue. Hidalgo deserves clean air, water, and soil, as well as health and well-being for all its inhabitants,” she said.

Governor Menchaca also reiterated support, framing the project as a step toward reversing decades of environmental degradation. “This consultation is an unprecedented exercise in social participation. It is time to acknowledge and address the historic burden caused by the refinery, the thermoelectric plant, and accumulated waste for more than fifty years,” he said, adding that the state would not support any action that puts residents at risk.