El Duraznal residents lead cleanup initiative against plastic pollution

In a hot afternoon in the small mountain town of El Duraznal, Soila Elizabeth Cruz swept plastic bags and bottles from the earth beneath a barbed‑wire fence while trucks rattled past the village square. She is one of dozens of residents who have taken to the streets this week to clear the litter that has accumulated in their community for years. The cleanup, organized by local volunteers and supported by the Pulitzer Center, is part of a growing movement to tackle the plastic crisis that threatens Guatemala’s rural landscapes.

Plastic pollution has become a pressing issue in Guatemala because the country lacks a comprehensive waste‑management system. A 2023 report from the United Nations Environment Programme found that 80 % of the country’s plastic waste is either landfilled or left in the open, contaminating rivers and soils. In mountainous regions like El Duraznal, garbage piles up in the valleys, leaching toxins into the water that farmers use for irrigation. The health risks are real: children in the area report higher rates of respiratory problems and skin infections linked to exposure to contaminated dust and water. The crisis is compounded by the fact that only about 15 % of plastic waste in Guatemala is recycled, and informal recycling sectors often work under hazardous conditions.

The community’s cleanup effort is more than a one‑day event. It is a partnership between the village council, the local NGO “Manos Limpias” and the Pulitzer Center, which has provided training and seed money for a mobile recycling unit. Cruz says the project has already collected over 200 kg of plastic, which will be sorted and shipped to a recycling facility in Guatemala City. The initiative also includes educational workshops for schoolchildren on the dangers of plastic and the benefits of proper waste segregation. By involving the next generation, the project aims to create a sustainable culture of environmental stewardship that can be replicated in other highland towns.

Looking ahead, the organizers plan to lobby the municipal government for a permanent waste‑collection schedule and for the installation of community recycling bins. They also hope to secure a grant from the Ministry of Environment to expand the mobile unit to neighboring villages. If the project succeeds, it could serve as a model for grassroots environmental action across Central America, demonstrating that even remote communities can drive change when given the right resources and support.