Volunteer to Recycle at Home

Tyronne Chimilio

Last week, the Government announced that it will phase out single use plastic bags and Styrofoam products. It is big news for the country and a first for the region. The move comes at a time when an initiative is being rolled out by the Solid Waste Management Two Project where residents are being encouraged to do at home recycling. Tyronne Chimilio of the Belize Solid Waste Management tells us more about this voluntary programme.

Tyronne Chimilio, Communications Officer, Belize Solid Waste Management Authority

“The Belize Solid Waste Authority is implementing the Solid Waste Management Project Two which has to do with the closing of six dumpsites and the construction of six transfer stations including the extension of the sanitary landfill. This is being funded through the Inter-American Development Bank. Through this initiative that is now being supported by the Government with the banning of plastic bag sand Styrofoam, it makes it an interesting situation for us now because we are raising more awareness about the issue that we have with waste management and that is a way forward. We will, of course, see a reduction of Styrofoam use and we do want to emphasize on businesses and citizens that the uses of Styrofoam is very harmful to the environment and having that reduce within the waste stream  is excellent for the environment and that is one way of protecting the environment. Through the solid waste management two, there is an aspect of that work where we want to have our citizen voluntary do recycling at their homes, so that will be another aspect that we will be promoting through the project.”