Summary
US companies exported 1.4 million tons of hazardous waste in 2022, nearly half of which went to Monterrey, Mexico.
Toxic substances from Zinc Nacional, a local recycling plant processing US steel dust, have polluted nearby homes, schools, and soil with lead, arsenic, and cadmium, exceeding US health thresholds by hundreds of times.
Experts call the waste trade “toxic colonialism,” citing Mexico’s weaker regulations and enforcement.
Residents report health issues, while the company claims compliance. Mexican authorities are investigating amid calls for stricter oversight and accountability.
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