Guyana’s rapid urban development, population growth, and economic expansion have brought new opportunities — but also new challenges, one of the biggest being waste management. Across Georgetown, Linden, Bartica, and beyond, piles of plastic, food waste, and construction debris are becoming an increasingly common sight.
However, what if we told you that waste doesn’t have to be a burden? With the right policies, technology, and partnerships, Guyana can transform waste management into a profitable, sustainable industry that creates jobs, protects the environment, and boosts the economy.
The Current Waste Challenge in Guyana
Guyana generates thousands of tonnes of waste each year, much of which ends up in landfills or, worse, in drains, rivers, and open spaces. Key challenges include:
- Limited recycling infrastructure
- Poor waste segregation at the source
- High volumes of plastic and single-use packaging
- Insufficient investment in modern waste management systems
- Public awareness gaps about proper disposal practices
But within these challenges lies an untapped economic opportunity. Properly managed, waste can become a source of revenue, energy, and raw materials.
Turning Waste into Wealth: Profitable Opportunities
1. Recycling and Upcycling Industries
Guyana can build profitable recycling plants that focus on plastics, glass, aluminium, and paper. Businesses can convert these materials into exportable goods or locally reused products.
- Plastic → Recycled into construction materials, furniture, or textiles.
- Glass → Repurposed into tiles, bottles, and décor items.
- Aluminium cans → Melted and reused in manufacturing.
- Paper & cardboard → Turned into packaging or biofuel.
Upcycling initiatives — like creating fashion accessories, furniture, or household décor from discarded items — can also add value while reducing landfill waste.
2. Waste-to-Energy Solutions ⚡
Instead of filling landfills, organic waste can be used to produce biogas or electricity through waste-to-energy plants.
- Food waste and organic matter → Converted into biogas for cooking and electricity.
- Non-recyclable waste → Used to power industrial boilers or generate energy for local grids.
This approach has been successful in countries like Singapore, Sweden, and Costa Rica and can be adapted for Guyana’s growing energy demands.
3. Cooking Gas from the Eccles Dumpsite (Mir et al., 2023)
One of the most promising opportunities for Guyana lies right in our backyard — the Eccles Dumpsite, which receives thousands of tonnes of mixed waste every year.
By adopting modern landfill gas recovery systems, Guyana can capture methane gas produced naturally as organic waste decomposes and convert it into cooking gas or electricity.
How It Works:
- As waste breaks down, methane gas is released.
- Using gas capture systems (pipes and extraction wells), this methane is collected instead of escaping into the atmosphere.
- The captured gas can be processed into liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for cooking or used directly in waste-to-energy power plants.
Benefits for Guyana:
- Affordable Energy → Cooking gas derived from waste can reduce dependence on costly LPG imports.
- Environmental Protection → Capturing methane reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
- Job Creation → Skilled employment opportunities in gas recovery, processing, and distribution.
- Revenue Generation → Selling methane-based cooking gas to households and businesses.
Countries like Brazil, India, and Thailand have successfully turned landfill gas into cooking fuel. Guyana can follow their lead by piloting a biogas-to-cooking-gas project at the Eccles Dumpsite, eventually expanding it to other major waste managment sites.
4. Composting and Organic Fertiliser Production
With Guyana’s strong agricultural sector, composting can turn food scraps, sawdust, and green waste into organic fertilisers.
- Small farmers can reduce costs by using locally made compost.
- Businesses can sell organic fertilisers to local and international markets.
This reduces landfill waste and supports sustainable farming practices.
5. Building a Circular Economy (Tomić & Schneider, 2020)
Guyana can adopt a circular economy model where products are designed to be reused, recycled, or repurposed rather than discarded.
- Deposit-return schemes for bottles and cans
- Partnerships with beverage companies to recover packaging
- Incentives for manufacturers to use recycled materials
- Encouraging sustainable packaging alternatives
This model reduces environmental impact while generating new revenue streams for local businesses.
6. Green Jobs and Entrepreneurship
By transforming waste into a resource, Guyana can create thousands of new jobs in:
- Recycling plants and sorting facilities
- Composting and fertiliser production
- Plastic-to-product manufacturing
- Waste collection and logistics startups
Young entrepreneurs can also innovate with eco-friendly businesses, from biodegradable packaging solutions to waste-based art and crafts.
Policy and Private Sector Partnerships
To make waste management profitable, collaboration is key:
- Government:
Create tax incentives for recycling and waste-to-energy projects.
Enforce stricter regulations on single-use plastics.
Invest in modern collection and sorting infrastructure. - Private Sector:
Partner with recyclers and innovators.
Launch CSR initiatives to support community clean-ups.
Develop sustainable product lines using recovered materials. - Communities:
Promote waste segregation at source.
Support local composting initiatives.
Engage in education and awareness campaigns.
Benefits of Making Waste Management Profitable
- Economic Benefits
Generates new industries and job opportunities
Attracts foreign investment
Reduces waste management costs for municipalities - Environmental Benefits
Less landfill usage
Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
Cleaner rivers, waterways, and coastal ecosystems - Social Benefits
Healthier communities
Increased environmental awareness
Strengthened local economies
The Future of Waste in Guyana
Guyana is uniquely positioned to turn waste into wealth thanks to its abundant natural resources, emerging green economy, and growing private sector interest. With the right policies, investments, and public engagement, waste management can become a profitable, sustainable industry that benefits our people, our environment, and our economy.
It’s time to rethink waste — not as a problem, but as an opportunity.
References:
- Mir, A. A., Mushtaq, J., Dar, A. Q., & Patel, M. (2023). A quantitative investigation of methane gas and solid waste management in mountainous Srinagar city-A case study. Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, 25(1), 535-549.
- Tomić, T., & Schneider, D. R. (2020). Circular economy in waste management–Socio-economic effect of changes in waste management system structure. Journal of Environmental Management, 267, 110564.
