The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development (MLGRD) has taken a decisive step toward sustainable urban waste management with the official launch of the Recycling and Composting Centre at the Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
The facility represents a strategic shift from traditional landfilling to organic waste diversion, aimed at extending the lifespan of the country’s primary waste site while reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
Technical Partnership: Canada and “Recycle Organics”
The launch was part of a high-level technical cooperation initiative supported by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). The program is being implemented by the Center for Clean Air Policy (CCAP) in collaboration with ImplementaSur and the Recycle Organics program.
Key Training Components:
- Capacity Building: Technical instruction sessions are being held through February 12 to equip local authorities and stakeholders with organic waste diversion skills.
- Expert Guidance: The training is led by international composting consultant Mr. Matthew Cotton, who specializes in feedstock evaluation and large-scale compost pile construction.
- Practical Application: Participants utilized market waste, wood chips, sawdust, and chicken manure to create high-quality compost piles during the workshop.
Reducing the “Organic Burden”
Currently, a significant percentage of waste sent to Haags Bosch consists of organic materials from markets and households. By diverting this waste, the Ministry aims to:
- Reduce Methane Emissions: Decaying organic matter in landfills is a major source of methane; composting turns this into a stable, useful soil amendment.
- Support Agriculture: The high-quality compost produced at the site is intended to be used in national beautification projects and made available to local farmers.
- Extend Landfill Life: Diverting organic waste reduces the physical volume of trash entering the landfill’s cells, delaying the need for costly new cell construction.
Institutional Involvement
The launch saw a broad spectrum of participation from:
- Government Agencies: Officers from the MLGRD Sanitation Unit.
- Local Authorities: Representatives from the Georgetown Mayor and City Council and neighborhood democratic councils.
- Education & Private Sector: Students and private waste contractors learning “circular economy” principles.
Further sessions will focus on Organics Collection Systems, teaching participants how to structure the logistics of gathering food and market waste before it reaches the landfill.
