As the municipality’s environmental councillor, I wrote educational pamphlets about responsible waste handling. One was intended for schoolchildren and another for Indigenous market vendors.
The school material worked well. The market pamphlet did not, mainly because many of the people it was designed for could not read it. We had chosen the wrong method for the audience.
For a short time, a special garbage truck at the market seemed like real progress. I personally explained how it would work, and vendors began separating their rubbish.
The vendors changed their behaviour, and then the municipality removed the truck that made that change possible.
When the vehicle was reassigned elsewhere, our credibility collapsed. People had followed our instructions and then watched us withdraw the service. I am not sure their trust can easily be recovered.
Saturdays create the most waste. Tourists do not usually throw it down themselves; vendors serving the tourism market produce much of it. I am trying to organise another campaign but receive little municipal support.
The environment council has virtually no budget. Sometimes it feels as if we exist mainly to create the appearance of environmental concern. I borrow small amounts from other departments for photocopies or an occasional book.
Backpackers create particular problems when they camp, light fires and leave rubbish while trying to travel as cheaply as possible. They compete with residents for scarce firewood and should understand the local consequences of their choices.
Responsible tourism begins before arrival: visitors should learn in Quito how their budget choices may affect Otavalo’s land, fuel and waste.
The municipality employs ten garbage collectors. I would rather invest more in information and prevention instead of endlessly treating the result. Otavalo also needs organised ecotourism that encourages people to stay longer and spread their spending more widely.
Cleaning the market matters, but lasting improvement requires honest municipal support and visitors who arrive already prepared to travel responsibly.