Mayor Wagner Pushes for Garbage Fee

Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner says that city residents must pay a garbage fee. “It is your garbage, and the city has the responsibility to ensure that we are not utilising funds that would be normally used for street rehabilitation and other operational purposes on your garbage,” he told News 5 this morning.

Mayor Wagner also pointed out that other municipalities have legislation in place that allows them to collect a garbage fee. “I do believe we have residents who want to pay. I have had residents who say, Mayor, we want to pay a fee because we are a responsible contributor to our city.”

The city’s waste management issues have been exacerbated by financial constraints, leading to delays in payments to Belize Waste Control Ltd. (BWCL) and subsequent disruptions in garbage collection services. In December 2024, uncollected trash sparked public outrage, with residents expressing frustrations over the delays. Mayor Wagner acknowledged these cash flow problems but assured that the Council is striving to meet its obligations to BWCL. “We are paying that outstanding balance. It is always a cash flow problem. Cash flow is how you manage it. During the slow season there will be a slowdown of revenues coming into the council’s coffers. So it is about managing it, but we are, as we speak, keeping up to our obligations to the Waste Control Board as a city.”