Govt considering different models for recycling garbage – Manickchand

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand, has disclosed that the government is currently considering different models of garbage recycling that can be implemented across the country.

She made this disclosure during an interview on “The Guyana Dialogue” programme on Thursday.

“We’re looking at different models that are available. There’s the model of going from waste to energy, there’s the model of going from waste to fertiliser,” the minister said.

However, for now, she said the government is focused on building out modern landfill sites across the country.

“What we’re currently doing is and you’re going to see that shortly, we’re trying to build out landfill sites in all ten regions and that’s modern landfill sites, very distinct from a dumpsite. That’s the first big move,” she explained.

According to the Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) manifesto, in the next five years, it will work on the construction of a recycling center to improve waste processing capabilities.

In tandem, it will launch an aggressive waste recycling programme to promote sustainable waste management practices. The party said it will implement public awareness and community engagement campaigns to educate citizens on proper waste disposal and the benefits of recycling.

Additionally, it will work with private investors to convert waste into energy, aiming to reduce landfill dependency and generate alternative energy sources.

Deputy Permanent Secretary (DPS) within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Josh Kanhai, recently shared his personal views on the topic of recycling.

In a social media post, he said, “Guyana must stop treating garbage as a liability and start managing it as an economic asset. The old model which is collect, dump and forget has failed us socially, environmentally, and fiscally.”

The DPS said through a structured public-private partnership, waste is channelled into waste-to-energy plants, recycling facilities, or industrial reuse systems. He further expressed that energy generated from waste offsets fossil fuel imports, lowers national energy costs, and feeds directly into GDP growth. Recycled materials re-enter manufacturing chains, reducing import dependency while creating skilled jobs.

According to Kanhai, Guyana can become a regional waste-processing and energy hub, importing waste via barges, just as other countries have done strategically, while exporting energy, technology, and expertise.

Major importers of global waste, primarily plastic, paper, and metal, include Malaysia, Turkey, Vietnam, Indonesia, and India, with some waste also flowing to nations like the Netherlands and Belgium. These countries import waste primarily to feed local recycling industries, extract raw materials, and drive economic activity.