Thousands of cigarette butts have gone from being highly polluting waste to works of art

Martes 23 de Abril de 2024

Thanks to the "colillatones" organized by Cultur in its service units

 In Mérida, Yucatán, on April 23, 2024, Cultur received two new works of art made from cigarette butts collected at the "El Corchito" stopover and the Meteorite Museum, both spaces located in Progreso and managed by this department.

As reported, on December 20, 2023, the general director of Cultur delivered 5,2575 cigarette butts to architect Miranda Jacqueline Escalante Moguel to transform them into two works of art, specifically into paintings that are now a reality.

With these two new artistic pieces, Cultur now has four thanks to an equal number of "colillatones" held not only at the aforementioned locations but also at the Yucatán Siglo XXI Convention and Exhibition Center - including its cinemas - and at the Chichén Itzá stopover.

In all cases, at each of the aforementioned sites, the department has already obtained the respective recognitions as "100% Smoke-Free and Emission-Free Spaces."

Mauricio Díaz Montalvo, general director of Cultur expressed his gratitude for Miranda's very professional work, as her artwork serves as an iconic record of the effort made by Cultur's staff as a contribution to decontaminating the mentioned service units from cigarette butts. He also thanked the Yucatán Health Services (SSY) for granting Cultur the mentioned recognitions.

As reported, Cultur initiated actions to obtain recognition as "100% Smoke-Free and Emission-Free Spaces" in several of the spaces it manages. The first was in May 2022 at the Yucatán Siglo XXI Convention Center, collecting 12,9000 butts. The second was in September of that same year at the Chichén Itzá stopover with 5,125 residues. The third was in August 2023 at the Meteorite Museum and the fourth in early November 2023 with 1,525 waste. In total, Cultur collected 23,300 cigarette butts, most of which are now works of art.

Publicado por: Cultur

Notas Publicadas

Paradores Cultur consolidate their presence in the tourism sector

Martes 16 de Diciciembre de 2025
Mérida, Yucatán, December 16, 2025
Press Release Number: 25-1882

Cultur Paradores Consolidate Their Presence in the Tourism Sector

The spaces operated by the agency in strategic areas of Yucatán are showing sustained growth and bolstering the tourism offerings leading up to 2026.

With tourism offerings present in Valladolid, Temozón, Tinum, Izamal, Chocholá, Halachó, Santa Elena, Progreso, Celestún, and Mérida, the Board of Trustees of the Cultural and Tourist Service Units of the State of Yucatán (Cultur) reported that more than three million people have visited the spaces under its management this year.

This influx reflects the interest in the state's natural, cultural, and heritage wealth and has helped position Yucatán as a preferred destination for national and international tourists, primarily from Canada and Europe.

The most recent figures from the Yucatán Tourism Observatory (OTY) confirm the sector's solid performance. According to this organization, the estimated economic impact of tourism reached 13,728.02 million pesos, demonstrating the sector's dynamism and its importance to thousands of Yucatecan families.

Regarding archaeological sites, Chichén Itzá registered almost two million visitors between January and November 2025; Uxmal recorded 269,972 visits, and Ek Balam received 110,722 visitors. During the same period, Pasaje Picheta reported 274,573 visitors.

In the eastern region, the Zací Handicrafts Market, located in the center of Valladolid, registered an influx of 128,915 people, while the Heroic Nights of Valladolid show brought together 93,177 attendees, as part of the cultural and tourist offer of the area.

In the natural and museum sectors, the Ría Celestún Biosphere Reserve received 40,909 visitors; the El Corchito Ecological Reserve, 85,722; and the Meteorite Museum in Progreso, 65,573. These figures reflect the interest in activities related to nature and scientific outreach.

With these results, the state is preparing to receive an even greater influx of visitors during the holiday season and the beginning of 2026, through initiatives aimed at strengthening its cultural and natural offerings and enhancing the experience of those who visit Yucatán.

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