# Guatemala waste management challenges > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/guatemala-waste-management-challenges > Updated: 2026-08-05T16:35:30.000Z. Sources: 2. Developments: 2. In late July 2026, Guatemala’s Solid Waste Collectors’ Association announced a $1.2 billion private‑financed project to build the country’s first urban solid‑waste treatment plant, with three phases planned for the capital, Izabal and the north. Construction was slated to start in November 2026 and the facility expected to operate within 18 months, aiming to replace the AMSA landfill and generate clean energy. A week later, officials highlighted a broader sanitation crisis: out of roughly 2,000 registered wastewater‑treatment plants, about 800 were non‑functional or operating at reduced capacity, prompting illegal discharges. The government launched a rehabilitation plan and sought financing to upgrade the system, especially in the Motagua River basin. Together, the announcements illustrate Guatemala’s simultaneous push for new solid‑waste infrastructure and urgent efforts to address widespread deficiencies in wastewater treatment. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-05: Guatemala's wastewater treatment plants largely non‑functional amid sanitation crisis Guatemala faces a major wastewater treatment deficit with 800 plants idle, while Mexico's Guanajuato ranks third in corporate water‑treatment adoption, surpassing the national average. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/guatemalas-wastewater-treatment-plants-largely-nonfunctional-amid-sanitation-crisis ### 2026-07-22: Guatemala to build first urban solid waste treatment plant Guatemala’s Waste Collectors’ Association plans a $1.2 bn privately financed plant to treat 4,000 t/day of urban waste, with construction starting Nov 2026 to replace the AMSA landfill. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/guatemala-to-build-first-urban-solid-waste-treatment-plant --- Cite as: Guatemala waste management challenges. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/guatemala-waste-management-challenges