Over 400 Illegal Dumpsites Found Across Belize

Speaking at the National Assembly during Monday’s budget debate, Minister of Sustainable Development Orlando Habet laid out a plan to crack down on illegal dumping, backed by cameras, doubled enforcement, and an expected $2 million budget.

“The days of irresponsible dumping must come to an end,” Habet told the House. “Cameras will be installed in known garbage dumping hotspots. Littering laws will be enforced. Public accountability will be strengthened.”

The budget increase will go toward fully opening transfer stations in Orange Walk and Corozal, bringing proper waste services to communities that have long been without them. A recent national assessment found over 400 illegal dumpsites across the country, with the highest concentration in the Belize District.

Habet also reported that over the past year, more than 62,000 tonnes of waste were safely managed through seven transfer stations serving roughly 220,000 Belizeans. He called it evidence that the country is moving in the right direction but acknowledged there is still significant ground to cover.

A home composting pilot project running in Orange Walk, Benque Viejo, and Dangriga is projected to divert more than 590,000 pounds of organic waste from the landfill each year. While feasibility studies for composting plants in San Ignacio and San Pedro have been completed, the government is also exploring ways to turn waste, including sargassum washing up on shores, into energy.

“With the support of this year’s budget, the Department of the Environment will double its enforcement capacity through the hiring of additional personnel,” Habet said. Officers will be deployed across districts to work with town and village councils on identifying and cleaning up dump sites.

A stronger presence is also planned specifically for San Pedro, one of Belize’s busiest tourism destinations.