HGP Nightly News – Guyana’s rapid development must be matched by stronger and more coordinated waste management systems if the country is to meet future environmental and public health challenges, according to UNDP Resident Representative Katy Thompson.
Speaking at a workshop supporting the development of a National Solid Waste Management Strategic Plan, Thompson said the issue affects every sector of society and requires a collective response from government agencies, local authorities, businesses and citizens.
“No matter where we came from across Guyana, the issue on the table affects us both personally and for us in our workloads as well,” Thompson told participants. “This issue is really a 360 issue for us to all be thinking about, engaging in and changing.”
The workshop brought together representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Solid Waste Management Authority, Regional Democratic Councils, Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, municipalities, private sector bodies, civil society groups, development partners and the media.
Thompson noted that as Guyana continues to expand economically, changing consumption patterns and industrial growth are placing new demands on existing waste management systems.
“In a country like Guyana, as in many countries which are accelerating at the rate of growth we’re seeing here, development choices that we are making are going to affect us in the long term,” she said.
According to the UNDP official, the workshop is intended to help strengthen how Guyana plans, governs and improves waste management in the years ahead.
She emphasized that the exercise is not merely about collecting and disposing of garbage but about building a system capable of responding to future challenges.
“The issue that we’re dealing with goes beyond the collection and disposal of waste,” Thompson said. “It requires a systemic approach to regulation, infrastructure, financing, cross-institution coordination, as well as public participation and awareness.”
A major component of the initiative, she explained, will involve improving the collection and use of data to guide policymaking and investment decisions.
“We’re going to address issues around data and obtaining data so that we can improve the planning process,” she stated. “That data and evidence will improve the quality of the strategic framework and planning moving forward.”
Thompson described evidence-based planning as a cornerstone of effective governance and a key principle underpinning UNDP’s support for the initiative.
She also highlighted the role of local government bodies, noting that municipalities and local authorities are often on the frontlines of sanitation services and community engagement.
“Your presence is really important, and it will provide us great insight into what you are doing in the communities that you serve,” she told representatives attending the workshop.
The proposed National Solid Waste Management Strategic Plan is expected to complement the Solid Waste Management Bill currently being finalised by the government.
According to Thompson, a comprehensive strategy can help define responsibilities, establish budgets and create a clearer roadmap for addressing waste management challenges nationwide.
Looking beyond traditional waste disposal methods, she encouraged stakeholders to explore opportunities associated with a circular economy model.
“The process will create the opportunity to think beyond waste as a burden and think about waste as a resource and part of the growing, diversifying economy,” Thompson said.
Participants were encouraged to consider solutions involving waste separation, recycling, reuse, recovery and value creation as part of efforts to modernise the sector.
The initiative is being supported through the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE), a global programme through which the UNDP is assisting Guyana in advancing sustainable development objectives.
Thompson reaffirmed the UNDP’s commitment to supporting the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development and other stakeholders as work continues on the national strategy.
“The collective work matters because we’re responding to the growing pressures and changing pressures on the existing waste management systems,” she said.
The workshop forms part of ongoing efforts to create a long-term framework for managing waste in a country experiencing one of the fastest rates of economic growth in the region.
