Despite implementing one of the region’s most ambitious environmental policies, Belize continues to struggle with plastic pollution five years after enacting its single-use plastics ban. The 2025 TrashBlitz Belize Report reveals a stark disconnect between legislative intent and on-the-ground reality, with plastic items constituting nearly 70% of all waste documented across the nation.
The comprehensive study, conducted through standardized audits at 17 sites spanning all six districts, recorded 14,208 individual pieces of trash. The data presents a troubling picture of persistent plastic consumption, with food and beverage packaging emerging as the predominant contaminant. Crystal Water bottles ranked as the most frequently encountered item, followed by various branded beverage containers. Plastic bags, caps, wrappers, and pouches additionally featured prominently in the waste catalog.
This environmental assessment comes seven years after Belize’s initial 2018 prohibition on single-use plastics and Styrofoam products, which was subsequently strengthened through updated regulations in 2022. Nevertheless, non-compliant items continue to circulate widely, with plastic consumption rates outpacing the capacity of national waste management infrastructure.
Shanda Sainsbury, Senior Field Representative at Oceana Belize, characterized the TrashBlitz initiative as fundamentally “a call to action rather than a cleanup exercise.” Emphasizing the program’s educational mission, Sainsbury noted, “Through this initiative and collaborating with Sea of Life, it has shown me how we can all be powerful stewards of our environment, creating positive change for our communities and future generations.”
The report advocates for implementing systemic solutions including refillable water systems in institutions and commercial establishments, a comprehensive ban on plastic bags, and establishing national monitoring protocols for microplastic pollution. These measures are deemed particularly critical for a nation whose economy and ecological heritage are built upon pristine reefs, river systems, and tourism.
Spearheaded by Sea of Life through its citizen science program, the TrashBlitz initiative engaged over 650 participants including schools, non-governmental organizations, and community groups between January and March 2025, creating a standardized framework for tracking litter and measuring the effectiveness of environmental policies.