Guatemala to build first urban solid waste treatment plant

The Guatemalan Solid Waste Collectors’ Association (Gremial de Recolectores de Desechos Sólidos) unveiled a project to construct the country’s first urban solid‑waste treatment facility. The plant is planned to process up to 4,000 tonnes of waste daily and will be built in three phases: an initial site in the capital (exact location not yet disclosed), a second in Izabal, and a third in the north.

The $1.2 billion private investment will be financed by an international firm, overcoming legal limits on public borrowing. Construction is slated to begin in November 2026 after environmental studies and licensing are completed, with the plant expected to become operational about 18 months later. The initiative aims to replace the AMSA landfill, which is slated for closure, and to provide benefits such as clean energy generation and safe handling of hospital waste. The Ministry of Environment has not yet formally received the proposal, but the project is positioned as a permanent solution for Guatemala’s solid‑waste management challenges.