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Plastic pollution is hitting poor countries the hardest, and Central American nations are among the most affected. Marine litter has a great deal of responsibility in the formation of more powerful cyclones.
Rationale behind our move to Motagua River, Guatemala. RiverRecycle aims to initiate a recycling and river waste collection project in Guatemala that would not only clean the rivers, and recycle plastic, but also offer economic benefits to the needy local community residing along the river corridors. The recycling part of the RiverRecycle intervention aims to produce recycled plastic boards out of the collected plastic trash that will be used for construction. The product is replacing plywood and can be used for many purposes f.ex. formwork, temporary shelters, schools, canteens and furniture etc. In case excess capacity is available, plastic boards can be sold and exported to other locations and applications.
Main Objectives
1. Prevent Ocean Plastic Pollution
• Intercept plastic waste before it reaches the Caribbean Sea and the Mesoamerican Reef.
• Target the Motagua River, one of the biggest contributors of ocean plastic in the region.
2. River and Land-based Waste Collection
• Install waste collection units (interceptors and river cleaners) at multiple points along the river.
• Supplement river cleanup with land-based collection in nearby communities.
3. Recycling and Circular Economy
• Recycle low-value plastic into plastic boards to be used in construction (plywood replacement, shelters, schools, furniture).
• Establish a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) to enable sorting, washing, shredding, and storage.
• Generate plastic credits and build a sustainable business model.
4. Support Local Communities
• Create jobs and improve working conditions, especially for informal waste collectors.
• Develop local cooperatives to manage collection and recycling operations.
• Offer income-generating opportunities through production and sales of recycled products.
5. Contribute to Global Sustainable Development
• Align with 10 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)-including SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 3 (Good Health), SDG 6 (Clean Water), SDG 8 (Decent Work), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption), and SDG 14 (Life Below Water).
Who Will Benefit?
1. Local Communities
• Residents along the Motagua River, especially in vulnerable areas.
• Informal waste pickers and community members who will be employed in river cleanup and recycling.
• Cooperatives formed to manage recycling facilities.
2. Environment & Ecosystems
• The Mesoamerican Reef and marine life in the Caribbean.
• Local river ecosystems.
• Reduction in land and water pollution.
3. Broader Society
• Public health improvement through reduction of toxins and microplastics in food and water.
• Contribution to climate action through GHG emission savings (estimated 563 kg CO2eq per ton of plastic recovered).
4. Economic Stakeholders
• New local businesses enabled through the recycled plastic product market.
• Potential for plastic board exports to generate additional revenues.
First Phase
• First phase, feasibility study, First booms installed to collect waste manually
• Operation cost of the cleaning and sorting for 12 months
• Negotiations with local stakeholders to prepare for full project
• Delivery of a container of boards to establish the market
Second Phase
• Collection of plastic from the river (booms etc.)
• Sorting station
• Land-based waste collection
• Plastic washing and shredding
• Plastic board production
Evaluation Feasibility study Riverrecycle 250 000 USD
Equipment Collection Riverrecycle 150 000 USD
Equipment Sorting Riverrecycle 200 000 USD
Equipment Land-based collection Riverrecycle 50 000 USD
Equipment Plastic washing and shredding Riverrecycle 300 000 USD
Equipment Plastic board production Riverrecycle 400 000 USD
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