Guyana’s rapid development is bringing new challenges to waste management, and the government says it is stepping up efforts to improve conditions at the Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill.
Minister of Local Government Priya Manickchand, during a site visit, acknowledged growing public concerns from residents of Eccles, Prospect, and Windsor Estate about smoke, odours, and other environmental issues linked to the landfill. She explained that the sheer scale of Guyana’s economic activity has placed immense pressure on existing facilities.
“We’ve moved from handling about 400 tonnes of garbage a day to 1,200 tonnes. That means moving from 100 trucks dumping here daily to about 400. So, we now have to increase our management capacity,” the minister said.
Engineers and site managers have already been engaged to find solutions, including improved containment and upgraded equipment. Plans also include closer collaboration with the First Lady’s ongoing beautification programme, which has been revitalising communities across the country.
Manickchand stressed that the focus is not only on Region Four, where Haags Bosch is located, but also on strengthening solid waste systems across municipalities, neighbourhood democratic councils, and villages nationwide.
“We want safe, sanitary, wholesome communities—places that are nice-smelling and nice-looking, where families and children can enjoy the outdoors,” she said.
The landfill, built with international support and operational since 2011, has long been at the centre of debate, with residents calling for tighter oversight and environmental safeguards. Officials now say they are determined to scale up both capacity and accountability as Guyana continues its rapid urban and industrial expansion.
For many citizens, the effort is not just about garbage—it’s about protecting public health, the environment, and the quality of daily life.
