This article assesses the location within Tijuana, Baja California, of those industrial hazardous wastes reported in compliance with the law in 1998. Although only a little more than 10% are high risk and very high risk, the plants generating the riskiest wastes hire the most employees and are clustered next to areas of population density and the highest concentrations of children younger than 14. Patterns of proximity are explained in terms of the decisions of key people such as maquiladora managers, engineers, and urban developers. The majority of workers prefer their workplace located close to home, although parents with children at home express much less preference. Longtime residents and those with better jobs live farther away. The actions of civil society groups to inform and empower affected communities are reviewed, especially in the case of abandoned hazardous waste. Policies for avoiding and reducing risks and directions for future research are recommended.
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