Guyana may soon receive a proposal to convert its waste plastics into fuel.
US-based company, Green Link Renewable Energy is currently in discussions which are aimed at utilising disposed plastics to be converted to fuel. Guyana, for years, has struggled to cope with improper waste disposal especially in the Capital City, Georgetown and major stakeholders are of the view that Guyana needs a recycling plant to dispose of its garbage, particularly in the city of Georgetown.

Mayor of Georgetown, Pandit Ubraj Narine during a recent interview on HGPTV Nightly News made it clear that a recycling plant in the city can generate electricity through the coconut industry and thus create more jobs for unemployed persons.
But the recycling plant issue is not a new idea.

In April of 2014, five companies had sent proposals to undertake such an effort.
In 2019, Manager of the Landfill site at Haags Bosch Lloyd Stanton had indicated that Guyana is not producing enough garbage for advanced waste disposal.
At that time, Guyana was receiving approximately 400 to 450 tons of burnable Garbage per day of which only 250 tons is burnable which represents a shortfall in the amount of burnable Garbage that is needed to sustain the recyclable plant.
Stanton had stated then that to sustain such a plant, the moisture that is present in our garbage should be taken into consideration.

Impact on our Society
The establishment of a recycling plant, particularly in the capital city, would have a major impact on society in terms of the importation of plastic products and the elimination of plastic waste in drains, alleyways, rivers and creeks.

During an interview with Pepperpot Magazine, Business Development Manager of Cevons Waste Management Morris Archer revealed that it can be beneficial for unemployed persons.
“Right there, there is employment, if it is done on a larger scale it is more people and that will be good,” Archer said

Others believe that there can be a lot of revenue garnered by companies, supermarkets and stores for citizens who will make contributions of plastic materials to recycled plastic facilities in their stores, companies and supermarkets.
“It is good to always promote recycling because it diverts from our landfill sites and unfortunately, landfills are close to the city and it is a lot of real estate land and it is the biggest motivation,” Archer added.

This move will be an improvement in the cleanliness of our streets, roads and alleyways, where plastic waste is indiscriminately dumped, he believes.
Archer also believes that the laws that govern littering should be enforced and penalisation should be heavier for persons who continue to pay no attention to littering indiscriminately.
Change is inevitable, should a recycling plant be established, we have to adapt and adjust, he stated, adding that landfill sites should be eliminated and many recycling plants should be set up.