05/06/2026
🌍 ECODEC Guatemala | Impulsando la gestión sostenible de residuos
La contaminación por plásticos no ocurre por accidente: es el resultado de brechas en los sistemas de gestión de residuos.
Cuando existen botaderos a cielo abierto, disposición no controlada y quema de residuos, el plástico termina filtrándose a ríos, lagos y, finalmente, al mar.
Desde ECODEC Guatemala, respaldamos el mensaje compartido por ISWA (International Solid Waste Association) a través de la Plastic Treaty Task Force, destacando la necesidad de acelerar soluciones sostenibles basadas en:
✅ Infraestructura adecuada
✅ Alineación de políticas públicas
✅ Economía circular
✅ Trazabilidad y resultados medibles
📌 Puntos clave del llamado:
• Transitar de botaderos a sistemas controlados de gestión de residuos.
• Expandir la recolección, clasificación y tratamiento de residuos a nivel nacional.
• Fortalecer los marcos regulatorios y la coordinación institucional.
• Incrementar el uso de plástico reciclado mediante incentivos de mercado.
🤝 Como parte de nuestro compromiso con la sostenibilidad, ECODEC Guatemala participa activamente en espacios de cooperación y fortalecimiento del sector, siendo miembro de ISWA LAC a través de BiorenovaGT Guatemala, promoviendo el intercambio de conocimientos, buenas prácticas y soluciones innovadoras para una gestión integral de residuos más eficiente en el país.
Agradecemos a ISWA International Solid Waste Association por impulsar estos espacios de diálogo y por visibilizar la urgencia de avanzar hacia sistemas de gestión de residuos más sostenibles y efectivos.
📩 [email protected]
🌐 www.ecodec.com.gt
Créditos del contenido base: ISWA International Solid Waste Association.
“Plastic pollution is driven by gaps in waste management systems, where leakage from open dumps into rivers and the marine environment highlights the urgent need for infrastructure, policy alignment, and circular solutions.” — Biorenova
As part of the ongoing discussion on plastic waste management, the International Solid Waste Association invited its national members and ambassadors to share insights from their respective countries, highlighting key challenges, solutions, and opportunities.
🇬🇹 ISWA’s Ambassador for Guatemala provided the testimony below.
Plastic pollution in Guatemala is closely linked to open dumping, uncontrolled disposal, and waste burning, with thousands of informal dumpsites acting as major leakage points into rivers and water bodies. This is compounded by low recycling rates (5–9%), limited waste management infrastructure, and weak market demand for recycled plastics.
A significant share of plastic pollution is transported through river systems such as the Motagua River, which carries large volumes of waste into the Caribbean Sea, affecting coastal ecosystems and the Mesoamerican Reef.
Key insights highlight the challenge:
💠Over 400,000 tonnes of plastic produced annually, with minimal recycling
💠The Motagua River contributes over 20,000 tonnes of plastic leakage to the ocean, representing around 2% of global riverine emissions
💠Recycled plastics can be 25–60% more expensive than virgin materials, limiting market uptake
Guatemala has launched initiatives such as the National Action Platform for Plastics and major infrastructure investments supported by the Inter-American Development Bank. Projects including river interceptors have already diverted over 23,000 tonnes of waste for collection and recovery.
To break the plastic pollution cycle, Guatemala’s experience highlights the need for:
• Transition from open dumpsites to controlled waste management systems
• Expansion of waste collection, sorting, and treatment infrastructure nationwide
• Stronger policy alignment and regulatory frameworks
• Increased use of recycled plastics and market incentives
Addressing plastic pollution requires eliminating leakage from dumpsites through systemic improvements in waste management, supported by infrastructure investment, policy action, and circular economy solutions.
