Residents Express Frustrations Over Garbage Collection Delays in Belize City

Residents in the Freedom Street area of Belize City are speaking out about the mounting garbage crisis as uncollected trash continues to overflow in their neighborhood. Two residents shared their experiences with News 5 and highlighted how the lack of timely garbage collection has disrupted their community.

One resident explained, “Sometimes they don’t come. Sometimes it’s just once a week, you know. They barely come pick up garbage. I don’t know what happened.” He noted that it had been two weeks since the garbage truck last came to his area.

Another resident, living just a few streets away, echoed the concerns. “Once they leave it, the garbage piles up more and more. Then animals tear it apart, and it’s all over the streets. It becomes a hazard.”

When asked for a message to authorities, one of the men replied, “Make them do their job, no?”

The Belize City Council owes Belize Waste Control over $800,000. The company is on a go-slow, focusing its limited resources on industrial clients and selectively collecting trash from some southside residences.

If the city council does not settle its debt by the end of today, the company will proceed with litigation.

The city resident News 5 spoke to acknowledged the city council’s inability to pay its garbage contractor was the root cause of the issue. However, he said, “If you don’t get paid, you can’t do your job. Nobody can work and not get paid.”