CLiP Belize Land Waste Audits and Interviews 2019

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The Commonwealth Litter Project (CLiP) supported Belize to take action on plastics entering the oceans. Currently 80% of marine litter is estimates to be originated on land and Cefas contracted Asia Pacific Waste Consultants to assess the land waste production rates and waste management performances. The sample collection was limited by the ease of collection of samples, the ability to transport samples, as well as the presence and absence of collection systems. Domestic waste samples were collected household by household targeting low-, medium- and high- income areas to determine waste generation and disposal rates. In areas with house-to-house collection system, the waste bags ready for collection by the waste truck were collected and the household occupiers were interviewed. This was the same protocol followed to sample comemrcial activities. In areas with no collection system, each household was provided with a bag to use to dispose of their waste. Bags were retrieved after one day and discarded to avoid biases in the data linked to the disposal of bulky and unusual items. A second bag was then provided, collected after 5 days and analysed. An interview was conducted with the member of the household depositing the bag. Local staff members were trained to undertake the interview. All waste was collected in labelled plastic bags that were individually opened to sort their contents into categories. Separated materials were weighed on a set of electronic scales. Beverage containers were stored and counted separately. Containers were sorted by size, material (e.g. plastic, aluminium) and product type (e.g. milk, juice). Further, all plastic bags were sorted into different types of bags and all containers were further sorted by size, material type and product type. Cigarette butts, coffee cups and takeaway containers were also segregated. Data quality was checked at several stages by Asia Pacific Waste Consultants before submission of the final version of the dataset. Data were checked during entering for completeness and adjust possible errors. Anomalies were also investigated.