Omar Khalid
Guatemala has been tackling its plastic problem through various initiatives and campaigns. One notable example is the town of San Pedro La Laguna, which implemented a ban on single-use plastics in 2016. This grassroots movement, driven by the local Mayan community, faced initial resistance but inspired similar bans in other municipalities. The National Scout Organization of Guatemala has also played a role with the Tide Turners Plastic Challenge, educating young people about plastic consumption and encouraging them to lead positive change. Additionally, Guatemala has joined the Clean Seas campaign, aiming to reduce plastic pollution in oceans by installing plastic-catching bio-fences in rivers. Despite these efforts, Guatemala continues to face challenges in waste management, with rivers like the Motagua suffering from unlicensed waste dumping and contributing significantly to global plastic pollution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | San Pedro La Laguna, Guatemala |
| Population | 13,000 |
| Plastic Ban Initiated By | Mauricio Mendez, Mayor |
| Year of Ban Implementation | 2016 |
| Items Banned | Single-use plastics, Styrofoam, bags, straws, containers, disposable shopping bags, food wrappings, styrofoam trays |
| Fine for Individuals | 300 GTQ ($40) |
| Fine for Companies | 15,000 GTQ ($1,940) |
| Youth Movement | The Tide Turners Plastic Challenge |
| Youth Movement Participants | More than 2,000 young Scouts |
| Youth Movement Impact | Increased awareness, behavioural changes, avoiding single-use plastics, reusing plastic containers, using reusable water bottles and bags |
| Waste Management | Bio-fences, trash processed into fuel or other derivatives, upcycling, Clean Seas campaign |
| Positive Outcomes | Lake Atitlán's water is free of plastic waste, 80% of the town's inhabitants no longer use plastics |
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What You'll Learn
San Pedro La Laguna's ban on single-use plastics
San Pedro La Laguna, a small Mayan town in Guatemala, has been at the forefront of tackling plastic pollution. The town implemented a ban on single-use plastics, specifically targeting items made from plastic and styrofoam, including bags, straws, and containers. This bold move faced initial resistance from locals, who found single-use plastics convenient and affordable.
The ban was initiated by Mauricio Mendez, the town's mayor, in 2016. San Pedro La Laguna became the first town in Guatemala to enforce such strident measures against waste. To address the challenge of transitioning away from single-use plastics, local leaders engaged directly with the 13,000 residents, discussing waste management practices. Recognizing the financial burden of switching to biodegradable alternatives, the government stepped in. They collected plastic and styrofoam items from households and provided free reusable or biodegradable options in return.
The ban on single-use plastics in San Pedro La Laguna had a significant impact on the town's ecosystem. Before the ban, the town's municipal landfill was inundated with disposable shopping bags, food wrappings, and styrofoam trays, with much of this waste ending up in Lake Atitlán. The lake's delicate ecosystem suffered damage from the plastic pollution. However, since the ban, the lake's water is now free of plastic waste, and the town has witnessed a notable reduction in plastic pollution.
The success of San Pedro La Laguna's efforts sparked a domino effect across Guatemala. At least ten municipalities have followed suit by introducing restrictions on single-use plastics, and many others are actively discussing similar plans. These initiatives are largely driven by Mayan communities passionate about preserving their local environment. While the federal government has not yet committed to nationwide action, the movement has caught the attention of the plastics industry, prompting legal and media responses.
San Pedro La Laguna's experience demonstrates that proactive measures at the local level can effectively tackle plastic pollution. The town's commitment to eliminating single-use plastics has not only improved its local environment but also inspired similar actions across the country, contributing to a growing wave of change in Guatemala.
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The Guatemalan government's installation of biofences
Guatemala has been facing a plastic pollution problem, with the Motagua River believed to be the most plastic-emitting river in the world, contributing around 2% of global plastic pollution in the oceans annually. In response, the Guatemalan government, through its Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN), installed more than 200 "biofences" in different rivers, at a cost of US$2.5 million. These biofences are designed to stop solid waste from reaching the oceans and are part of the country's commitment to the Clean Seas campaign, led by UN Environment, to reduce plastic pollution.
The Motagua River, which forms part of the Guatemala-Honduras border, is a major transportation route for agricultural produce such as bananas, coffee, and other fruits. However, it has also become a significant source of plastic pollution due to poor waste management practices. The final few kilometres of the river are particularly affected, with an urban landfill located on one of its tributaries, the Rio Las Vacas. During the rainy season, heavy flows of trash wash into the river, contributing to the plastic pollution problem in the Caribbean Sea.
The community of El Quetzalito, located near the mouth of the Motagua River, has been at the forefront of utilising bio-fences to combat plastic pollution. These bio-fences have not only helped to reduce pollution but also created new income sources for residents through recycling and upcycling initiatives. The success of the bio-fences in Guatemala has led to their adoption by neighbouring countries such as Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and Panama, who are also working to address plastic pollution in the Caribbean Sea.
While the Guatemalan government's installation of biofences is a positive step towards reducing plastic pollution in the country's rivers, it is important to address the root cause of the problem. As acknowledged by Alfonzo from the UN Environment program, increasing wastewater treatment facilities and reducing individual consumption of plastics through education are crucial to tackling plastic pollution at its source. Additionally, improving waste management practices and reducing plastic consumption can help prevent plastic waste from entering waterways in the first place.
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The Scouts' Tide Turners Plastic Challenge
The Scouts Tide Turners Plastic Challenge is a youth movement to fight plastic pollution in Guatemala. It was launched by the National Scout Organization of Guatemala in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme. The challenge is designed to inspire young individuals to reflect on their plastic consumption, find solutions to reduce it, and lead positive change in their communities.
More than 2,000 young Scouts have completed the challenge in Guatemala as of early 2022. The Scouts developed new ways of thinking and living through the challenge. For some, it provided opportunities to be part of a bigger solution. The challenge started with a simple plastic audit and led to informative workshops and other interactive activities that helped young participants improve their public speaking skills, especially when persuading people within their communities to adopt the 4Rs: reuse, reduce, recycle, and refuse.
The challenge also had an impact on the behaviour of the Scouts who took part. Some started completely avoiding single-use plastics, while others began reusing plastic containers and bringing reusable water bottles and bags from home. The Scouts also worked on a manual with activities that promote positive changes, which was adapted for children as young as four to six years old.
The Tide Turners Plastic Challenge has helped to create a domino effect in Guatemala, with at least five municipalities introducing bans on single-use plastics. The success of these grassroots initiatives, driven primarily by Mayan communities, has caught the attention of the plastics industry. However, the federal government has not yet committed to national action to regulate single-use plastics.
Guatemala has also joined the UN-led Clean Seas campaign to reduce plastic pollution in the oceans and pledged to increase waste collection in rivers through innovative plastic-catching bio-fences. The country is working with other Latin American and Caribbean countries to tackle marine litter and make firm commitments on recycling and waste management.
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The Clean Seas campaign
Guatemala has been facing a plastic pollution crisis, with the Motagua River believed to be the most plastic-emitting river in the world, contributing around two per cent of global plastic pollution emissions into the oceans annually. In response, Guatemala joined the United Nations-led Clean Seas campaign in 2018, pledging to increase waste collection in rivers through innovative plastic-catching bio-fences. The campaign, launched in February 2017, aims to engage governments, the general public, civil society, and the private sector in the fight against marine plastic litter.
In addition to these initiatives, the town of San Pedro La Laguna has been at the forefront of tackling plastic pollution, with 80% of its inhabitants no longer using plastics. In 2016, the town banned the sale and distribution of single-use plastics, becoming the first town in Guatemala to enact such a drastic ordinance against waste. The ban was initially resisted by locals due to the convenience of single-use plastics and the cost of biodegradable alternatives. However, the government supported the transition by collecting plastic and styrofoam items and trading them for reusable or biodegradable alternatives at no cost.
The success of San Pedro La Laguna's ban on single-use plastics has sparked a domino effect, with at least 10 municipalities introducing similar restrictions and many others discussing plans to regulate them. These grassroots initiatives, driven primarily by Mayan communities, have caught the attention of the plastics industry, which has responded with lawsuits and media offensives. Despite these challenges, Guatemala remains committed to addressing its plastic problem through initiatives like the Clean Seas campaign and community-led efforts.
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The Motagua River's plastic pollution problem
Guatemala's Motagua River is believed to be the most plastic-emitting river in the world, contributing to around 2% of global plastic pollution emissions into the oceans annually. The Motagua River basin, the largest in Guatemala, covers an area of 12,670 square kilometers and is navigable by shallow-draft boats for approximately 125 miles (200 km) upstream from its mouth. The river is a major transportation route for goods such as bananas, coffee, and other fruits grown in the eastern valleys.
The plastic pollution problem in the Motagua River is caused by several factors, including untreated sewage, industrial waste, sediment, and blackwater from Guatemala City. The situation is unique as an urban landfill sits on top of one of its tributaries, the Rio Las Vacas, which also suffers from unlicensed waste dumping. During the rainy season, these factors lead to heavy flows of trash, adding to the plastic pollution problem in the Caribbean Sea. Up to 20,000 tonnes of plastic flow through the Motagua River basin each year.
To combat this issue, Guatemala has joined the Clean Seas campaign and pledged to increase waste collection in rivers using innovative plastic-catching bio-fences. The community of El Quetzalito, located near the mouth of the Motagua River, has pioneered the use of bio-fences, which has helped residents create new sources of income through recycling and upcycling. Additionally, Guatemala, along with Honduras, has worked to address the issue through the Clean Seas campaign, with Honduras adopting Guatemalan bio-fences.
However, the bio-fences, which cost $2.5 million to install, have not been as effective as hoped. The Ocean Cleanup sent its first crew to Guatemala to investigate and develop solutions for this complex location. The problem gained global recognition when footage of islands of trash and a scuba diver swimming in plastic went viral.
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Frequently asked questions
Guatemala's plastic problem is an ongoing issue, but there have been some promising initiatives to tackle it. One notable example is the Mayan town of San Pedro La Laguna, which implemented a ban on the sale and distribution of single-use plastics in 2016. This grassroots movement, driven by Mayan communities, has inspired similar restrictions in at least 10 other municipalities.
The ban faced initial resistance from locals, who found single-use plastics convenient and struggled to afford biodegradable alternatives. However, the town's leaders persisted, going door-to-door to educate villagers about waste management and providing free reusable or biodegradable items in exchange for plastic and styrofoam products. As a result, 80% of the town's inhabitants no longer use plastics, and Lake Atitlán, which was once polluted with plastic waste, is now free of it.
Guatemala has joined the United Nations-led Clean Seas campaign, pledging to increase waste collection in rivers through innovative plastic-catching bio-fences. The country is also addressing plastic pollution through youth movements, such as the Tide Turners Plastic Challenge, which educates young people about plastic consumption and empowers them to lead positive change in their communities.
Guatemala faces significant challenges in addressing its plastic problem, including poor waste management, especially in the Motagua River Basin, which contributes around 2% of global plastic pollution emissions into the world's oceans annually. The country also struggles with unlicensed waste dumping and untreated sewage, which further exacerbates the issue. Additionally, there is a gap between plastic consumption and recycling rates, with recycling only occurring in less than 9% of plastic produced.
