University of Guyana advances circular economy

The University of Guyana is furthering sustainable waste management in Guyana through research and community work completed under the Prevention of Marine Litter in the Caribbean Sea (PROMAR) project.

The University, through its Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences, finished its part of the PROMAR project by hosting a Circular Economy Expo and closing ceremony in October 2026. These events brought together partners and stakeholders to discuss sustaining the project’s results.

PROMAR focused on reducing plastic waste flowing from land into Guyana’s rivers, coastal areas, and the Caribbean Sea by combining waste monitoring with circular economy solutions. The project demonstrated how discarded materials can be repurposed into new products, creating opportunities for collaboration between researchers, businesses, and communities.

Professor Temitope Oyedotun of the University of Guyana explained the project aimed to treat waste “not as waste, but as vital resources.” The project also developed circular economy courses for the University, integrated marine litter monitoring into existing programs, and supported policy development around packaging waste and producer responsibility. Tracy Phillips of the UNEP Cartagena Convention Secretariat emphasized that addressing marine litter requires changing decisions made throughout a product’s lifecycle, from design to disposal.

The University of Guyana intends to continue building on PROMAR’s achievements to promote cleaner communities and a healthier marine environment.