Mercedes Receives New Waste Compactor Truck – $222M Investment

Mercedes, Argentina – The municipality of Mercedes officially unveiled a new, state-of-the-art compacting unit on Saturday, March 21, 2026, aimed at improving the efficiency of its urban solid waste collection services. The acquisition, finalized through a leasing agreement with Banco Provincia, represents an investment exceeding 222 million pesos, according to municipal officials.

The presentation ceremony was led by Mayor Juan Ignacio Ustarroz, alongside Mariana San Martín, President of the Deliberative Council, and Luís Ponce, Undersecretary of Public Services. Officials emphasized the collaborative effort required to maintain investment in essential equipment despite the current economic challenges facing the country.

Luís Ponce expressed his satisfaction, noting that this is the third new unit added to the city’s fleet this year. “We see a tremendous joy to have a zero-kilometer truck,” Ponce stated. “The community’s effort through taxes is reflected in these tools that provide quality and safety to our workers.”

Mariana San Martín highlighted the vehicle’s arrival as the result of a unanimous policy decision approved by the legislative body late last year. “We worked very hard to access these leasing benefits in a coordinated task with all political forces,” she said.

Municipal workers emphasized the importance of public cooperation, specifically urging residents to use the green containers correctly to prevent damage to the units’ hydraulic systems. Juancho Torres, a municipal worker with extensive experience, described the daily difficulties encountered. “Sometimes we empty a bin and, upon returning to the block, it is already filled with grass, branches, or logs. That breaks the guides of the truck. We need people to understand that you cannot throw anything in there,” Torres explained.

Mayor Ustarroz underscored the importance of continued investment in the municipal vehicle fleet, particularly in light of recent cuts in national government funding. “In this context where resources have been cut by the National Government, being able to continue incorporating vehicles is thanks to the contribution of the Provincial Government and the commitment of the Mercedes taxpayer,” he stated.

Ustarroz also noted that Mercedes’ growing population necessitates a more modern logistical approach. “I ask the neighbors to respect the regulations; not doing so harms the entire city,” he concluded. Ustarroz was recently elected to his current term representing Unión por la Patria, securing 52.8% of the vote in 2023, according to available election data. He previously served as Intendente, first elected in 2015 representing Frente de Todos, and again in 2019 representing Frente de Todos.