The Motagua River basin is the largest in Guatemala, extending over an area of 17,727 square kilometres. It is estimated that there are around 441 illegal dumpsites. Improper solid waste management, including burning in landfills, generates approximately 390 µg TEQ/ton/year (dioxins and furans), as well as persistent organic pollutants, and represents up to 7% of the total plastic that reaches the oceans. Added to this is the poor management of wastewater. All of this negatively impacts water quality and the livelihoods within the basin.

The project of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN),  Integrated Environmental Management of the Motagua River Watershed,  a non-reimbursable cooperation project financed with resources from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and supported by the United Nations Development  Programme (UNDP), is working on reducing the land-based sources of pollution and emissions of unintentionally produced persistent organic pollutants (unintentional POPs) to mitigate impacts on coastal marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of the local population.

Among these efforts is the pilot project "Integral management of urban solid waste in the municipality of Estanzuela, in the department of Zacapa, Guatemala." The primary objective of this pilot project has been to design and implement an integrated management system for urban solid waste, aiming to eliminate illegal dumping sites and reduce dioxin/furan emissions and plastic waste.

Despite being recognised as one of the cleanest municipalities in Guatemala, Estanzuela still faces challenges with solid waste management.

“ When we talk about the problems faced by the municipality of Estanzuela, in the department of Zacapa, regarding the issue of solid waste and residue management, we are referring to the lack of awareness that the population often has regarding the disposal, treatment or use of the residue or waste that we cause or produce due to current consumerism, ” explains Irvin Chacón, Head of the Environmental Management Unit of the Municipality of Estanzuela. 

“ Another current problem, which has unfortunately been inherited, is the burning of plastic in our landfill, which produces polluting gases that affect air quality, not only in our municipality but also in the Motagua River basin, ” adds Irvin Chacón.

Within the framework of the pilot project, an environmental education campaign was carried out in the municipality, primarily targeting educational centres and public institutions.

“ We had an environmental education campaign in which 150 sets of garbage containers were distributed, which were then distributed to educational establishments in our municipality. Not only did they provide us with these supplies, but the project also built technical capabilities through training, which was provided to our community leaders, teachers, youth, and others who benefited from these containers,"  says Irvin Chacón.

As a result of the environmental education provided at various schools in our municipality, we have observed that some educational centres have implemented measures such as not using Styrofoam. " They no longer use Styrofoam in their stores, where young people buy their food, " says Irvin Chacón.

Additionally, some of the schools that received the training decided to become recycling collection centres, and the income from the sale of this waste is used to make improvements to the schools.

“ Here we have something that I call “Renewable Circle .” " Students bring organic waste, cans, glass, or anything that can be sold, and we collect it here. Later, that waste is sold, and with the money we buy food for the fish we have there, " says Antony José Duarte, a student at the Instituto Oficial Coedo de Educación Básica con Oriente Agropecuaria (INEBOA).

The project also donated five informational kiosks, which have been placed in several educational centres and public spaces. These kiosks have continued to educate the public about the proper separation and disposal of solid waste.

Additionally, the project supports the Municipality in improving the conditions of the municipal landfill and planning its gradual closure.

“ Among the main actions pending for the project is the purchase of materials for the construction of a new perimeter wall at our open-air landfill. Additionally, as part of these improvements, an access gate will be constructed, complete with restrooms, showers, and rest areas. Surveillance cameras will also be installed, with 24-hour security. All of these actions will benefit not only the municipality but also the people working within this landfill, as they will have more humane and dignified conditions to carry out their work, ” comments Irvin Chacón.

"The Integral Solid Waste Plan has already been established and has already begun to be implemented. The Municipal Landfill Characterisation Study has already been completed. With this, for next year, 2026, there are already advanced actions to be able to implement a new sanitary landfill," explains Circe Mercedes Cordón, Departmental Delegate of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN) in Zacapa.

The project's progress is primarily due to the will of the local authorities.

“ We dream of a healthier country. One of our priority issues in our administration is precisely how to improve conditions, not only in Estanzuela, but in the country as a whole,” says Leandro Morales, Mayor of Estanzuela.

“ This municipality has made significant progress in mitigating the presence of solid waste and debris within the basin, eliminating 95% of the clandestine landfills that were previously located on the riverbank within the jurisdiction of the municipality of Estanzuela, ” comments Circe Mercedes Cordón.

Finally, she adds, “The problem of garbage is a problem that concerns us all. "It's not a government issue; it's a civic responsibility issue. We must assume that civic responsibility, which entails properly managing solid waste and, above all, its final disposal. " 

About the project

The Integrated Management of the Motagua River Basin projects aims to reduce land-based sources of pollution and unintentional emissions of persistent organic pollutants (unintentional POPs) to mitigate impacts on coastal marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of the local population. The project will strengthen Guatemala's efforts to manage the Motagua River Basin (17,991 square kilometres).

The project will provide global environmental benefits related to maintaining water resources and regulating the Motagua River Basin. In particular, the project will contribute to reducing water pollution that negatively affects downstream ecosystems and livelihoods (1,799,080 ha under the Integrated Watershed Management approach in the Motagua River Basin). In addition, the global environmental benefits of the project include the reduction of unintentional POPs emissions produced by the burning of solid waste in open dumps, including the reduction from 109,500 metric tons (MT) / year to 87,600 MT / year of waste plastics and the reduction of 225.6 grams of toxic equivalents/year to 180.5 / year of emissions of unintentional POPs.

Words by Caroline Trutmann and  Juan Luis Sacayón (Translator). Photos by MARNMotaguaMuniEst.