Belize Sugar Industries Ltd. (BSI) and the Orange Walk Town Council have launched a pilot composting initiative that diverts organic waste from landfills and upcycles it into a nutrient-rich resource for local farmers, gardeners and public green spaces in Orange Walk, Belize.
What Is the Recycle Organics Program?
Launched in May 2026, the Recycle Organics Program combines two streams of organic material:
- Municipal yard waste collected by the Orange Walk Town Council, including grass clippings, leaves and branches
- Mill mud and byproducts generated during BSI's sugarcane milling process
These materials are processed together at a composting pad located on BSI's land, which is owned and operated by BSI. The finished product is a nutrient-rich compost that can be used as a natural fertilizer to improve soil quality, recycle nutrients back into the land and support local agriculture.
A portion of the finished compost is returned to the Orange Walk Town Council for use in public landscaping and community beautification.
How the Program Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions
When organic biomass is sent to a conventional landfill, it breaks down and generates methane — a greenhouse gas. By diverting municipal yard waste and mill byproducts away from landfill and upcycling them into compost, the Recycle Organics Program helps reduce those emissions.
"This composting partnership is closely aligned with our broader sustainability goals by advancing circular economy principles, strengthening public–private collaboration and reducing greenhouse gas emissions," said Adrian Zetina, Manager of R&D and Sustainability at BSI.
A Model for Public–Private Collaboration
For Orange Walk, the pilot represents a practical step toward a cleaner local economy — one that shows how municipal and private-sector partners can work together to turn waste into a resource with lasting value.
The program is funded by BSI and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), with technical support provided by ImplementaSur and the Center for Clean Air Policy (CCAP).
Learn more about ASR Group’s commitment to Resource Conservation & Circularity, and discover our latest Sustainability Report.