Full Circle Belize: Biodiversity Guardians against Plastic Pollution

Grantee:

Humana People to People Belize

Location:

Terrestrial areas: Belmopan City, Camalote, Cotton Tree, Teakettle, Roaring Creek, Ontario, Unitedville, and Armenia 

Coastal areas: Riversdale and Seine Bight

Thematic Area:

Blue Business Innovation

Timeframe:

February 2024 – May 2026

Project Goal:

To reshape plastic usage patterns in Belize through public education and transformation of plastic waste into marketable recycled products. 

Project Objectives:

1. To empower 150 youth and adults and 1,200 students in 10 target communities in the Cayo and Stann Creek districts with the knowledge to foster environmentally responsible plastic use and disposal.
2. To reduce the amount of plastic waste from target communities entering the marine environment.
3. Transform the collected plastic into useful items, resulting in at least 4 new products created from recycled plastic and 5 new clients purchasing the new items.
4. To develop a marketing and distribution system for the sale of transformed plastic products.

Expected Outputs:

1. Students, youths and adults trained in plastic pollution and its negative impacts on marine life and biodiversity, principles of reduce/ re-use/recycle, and environmentally responsible disposal.
2. 20 community engagement campaigns including cleanup campaigns, community fairs, information booths at events, and 10 social media awareness campaigns conducted by Q1 2026.
3. 15 plastic collection bins installed at focal community points in 10 target communities.
4. Plastic waste collected from collection bins and transported to the workstations.
5. Liaise with Bowen and Bowen to receive their used plastics.
6. Machinery, equipment, and molds purchased for upcycling plastic waste products.
7. Manufacturing process implemented for upcycling of recycled plastic products.
8. Business plans and sustainability strategy developed.
9. Sales and distribution system established.

Approved Project Proposal: