Waste Warriors Camp hosts children at Belmopan Civic Center

BELMOPAN, Thurs. Aug. 13, 2026 

   More than 25 children gathered at the Belmopan Civic Center on Thursday, August 13, for a one-day Waste Warriors Camp aimed at teaching young Belizeans the importance of proper waste management and environmental protection. The camp, organized by the Belize Solid Waste Management Authority in collaboration with the Department of Climate Change, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Belmopan City Council, brought together children between the ages of 10 and 15 years for a day of learning and hands-on activities.

   Participants explored topics including waste sorting, composting, recycling, conservation and the reuse of materials, with organizers emphasizing the importance of giving children practical knowledge that they can apply at home and share with others.

   Tyronne Chimilio, public relations officer for the Belize Solid Waste Management Authority, said the initiative is intended to develop a generation of young people who understand their role in protecting the environment. “We want to ensure that these children become environmental warriors, so when they go back to school, they can go back to school and say we learned about recycling, resource recovery, transfer stations, and we also learned about what it is to ensure that we protect the environment,” he said.

   Chimilio said that particular emphasis was placed on the three Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle, as well as proper waste separation and composting.

   The camp also sought to connect waste management with the broader issue of climate change, giving participants an understanding of how everyday practices can contribute to environmental protection. “This camp is beyond teaching them about proper waste disposal; it actually assists them in understanding climate change, and the importance of climate change and what they need to do to combat climate change,” Chimilio said.

   Organizers say the goal is for the children to take the lessons learned during the camp back to their homes and communities, turning them into practical habits that can contribute to cleaner and more sustainable communities.