Reducing Plastic Waste in Guatemala: Small Steps, Lasting Impact

At Be Humanitarian, sustainability has guided our work for years. We support families in Guatemala through education, nutrition, and economic opportunity. At the same time, we care deeply about protecting the planet.

One major challenge we see is plastic waste. Therefore, we are committed to reducing it in practical ways.

Why Reducing Plastic Waste Matters

Several years ago, we toured the dump in Guatemala City. We saw people digging through trash to collect recyclable items. That moment changed us.

Since then, we have focused on reducing plastic use in our programs.

Plastic bags are especially harmful. They are used once and then thrown away. In many communities, there are limited recycling systems. As a result, plastic often ends up in landfills or scattered throughout neighborhoods.

Although reducing plastic is not always easy, change is possible. In both Guatemala and the United States, plastic bags remain cheap and convenient. However, convenience should not outweigh responsibility.

Our Efforts to Reduce Plastic Waste

Over the years, we have taken several steps to cut down on plastic use.

First, we employed local moms to make reusable shopping bags from durable plastic strips. These bags were sold nationwide. As a result, thousands of single use plastic bags were replaced.

Each reusable bag can replace hundreds of plastic bags every year. Even one small change can create long term impact.

Still, we know there is more to do.

When we purchase groceries for 35 families multiple times each month, many items come packaged in plastic. Potatoes, onions, rice, flour, and bread are often placed in small plastic bags.

To address this, we introduced hundreds of reusable mesh produce bags into the community last year. This simple step significantly reduced plastic waste entering local landfills.

If you would like to learn more about our community programs in Guatemala, you can explore our work here:
https://behumanitarian.org/volunteer-vacation

Learning from San Pedro La Laguna

We are inspired by the town of San Pedro La Laguna in Guatemala. In 2016, local leaders implemented a ban on single use plastics. As a result, plastic waste dropped dramatically.

Residents returned to traditional methods. For example, they began using palm leaf baskets and banana leaves for wrapping food. Community members worked together to protect their environment.

You can read more about San Pedro La Laguna’s plastic ban and environmental efforts through coverage by National Geographic here:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/guatemala-town-ban-plastic

Their example shows that community wide change is possible. When local leaders and citizens work together, real progress happens.

Partnerships That Create Change

We are also grateful for leaders like Jeremy Porter, CEO of Tidey. Through innovative recycling programs and community driven efforts, Tidey is helping reduce plastic waste in Guatemala.

Organizations like these prove that sustainable solutions require collaboration.

Looking Toward the Future

Our goal is simple. We want to remove single use plastic bags from our programs whenever possible. In addition, we aim to use items that last for years.

For example, our founder, Tobie Spears, purchased a handmade reusable bag in Guatemala in 2019. She still uses it today for grocery trips. That one bag has replaced hundreds of plastic bags over time.

At Be Humanitarian, we continue to choose reusable shopping bags, mesh produce bags, and other sustainable tools. Although the changes may seem small, they add up.

Reducing plastic waste is not just an environmental trend. It is a responsibility.

Together, we can protect our communities and our planet for generations to come.