Sargassum cleanup in Playa del Carmen has moved into a larger daily operation as heavy arrivals continue along the coast. Municipal officials say Navy personnel, Zofemat workers, and public services crews are now part of the work, with thousands of tons already removed this year. The city also says it has changed where the collected seaweed goes, a detail that affects how the cleanup is managed after it leaves the beach.
What 250 sargassum workers reveal in Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen officials say up to 250 people are now collecting sargassum on municipal beaches, as recent arrivals continue to put pressure on cleanup crews along the coast.
According to a May 25 report by Noticaribe, the municipality has removed 13,000 tons of sargassum so far this year. Candy Mendoza, Playa del Carmen’s municipal environment secretary, said the recent landings have been intense and visible on local beaches.
Navy and Zofemat crews work the beaches
Mendoza said the current operation includes between 80 and 120 Navy personnel, 150 Zofemat workers, and an additional group from municipal public services. Zofemat is the federal maritime zone area that covers beachfront management and related municipal work.
The staffing figure follows a broader federal and state response to the 2026 sargassum season. The Navy said on May 17 that more than 39,500 tons of sargassum had been collected in Quintana Roo this year as part of the national response involving federal, state, and municipal authorities.
Earlier Vallarta Daily coverage on Playa del Carmen’s sargassum response reported that Semar had assigned 110 naval personnel to Playa del Carmen, then the largest reported Navy deployment among the main coastal points included in the operation.
City says sargassum no longer goes to landfill
Municipal officials also said Playa del Carmen now has a dedicated sargassum disposal point, which means collected material is no longer being taken to the landfill. Noticaribe reported that Mendoza confirmed the change but did not provide further details on the disposal site.
That shift comes as cleanup crews face changing beach conditions. Recent monitoring cited by Vallarta Daily found more than 90,000 tons of floating sargassum offshore of Quintana Roo, and 55 of 140 monitored beaches were listed as having excessive accumulation.
Mendoza also said Mayor Estefanía Mercado is expected to announce additional equipment for the response. No specifications were reported.
