Summary
The Waste Value Chain Analysis in Barbados was conducted to explore how humanitarian waste can be more sustainably managed in the island context, mapping existing recycling systems, identifying gaps in capacity and preparedness, and highlighting practical opportunities to reduce landfill dependence while strengthening recycling solutions linked to the Regional Logistics Hub, emergency operations, and future prepositioning activities. Implementing a waste value chain mapping for humanitarian waste in any emergency context, before or during the emergency can help humanitarian organisations to align strategies to manage humanitarian waste and reduce negative environmental impacts and harm to the recycling sector. For more guidance, have a look at the WREC Waste value chain analysis guidance and tools: https://logcluster.org/en/documents/waste-value-chain-analysis-guidance-tools-wrec
Content
Executive Summary:
PURPOSE: This Waste Value Chain Analysis (WVCA) assesses Barbados’ capacity to manage and recover humanitarian waste, with a focus on reducing reliance on landfill disposal. It provides a basis for sustainable waste management systems for humanitarian operations, including the Regional Logistics Hub and Centre of Excellence.
METHODOLOGY: The WVCA combines a desk review with field visits to key facilities—such as the Sustainable Barbados Recycling Centre (SBRC), private recyclers, and WFP Regional Logistics Hub—to map waste streams, stakeholder roles, and gaps in the island’s waste value chain.
CONTEXT: As a Caribbean SIDS, Barbados faces high exposure to natural hazards, limited land availability, and increasing waste pressures. Regional initiatives from the Regional Logistics Thematic Working Group (RLTWG), WFP, and Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) promote environmental sustainability integration into supply chain operations, including humanitarian waste management.
NATIONAL WASTE MANAGEMENT AND RECYCLING PROFILE: Barbados is one of the most densely populated countries in Caribbean with 657 people/Km2 (FAO, 2023). It produces 900–1,200 tonnes of waste daily (SBRC, 2015). The Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) collects and transfers waste to the governmental SBRC for sorting, composting, baling, and exporting. Only source-segregated waste is recycled; the rest goes to the govern-owned landfill. The national recovery rate is around 4.28% (WEF, 2025). Private recyclers manage cardboard, plastics, metals, glass, e-waste, oils, and organics, with the informal recyclers also contributing to the recovery of waste.
FINDINGS: Strengths: Functional collection and disposal system exists; with local recycling for organics, construction waste, some plastics, and glass (reuse). Export routes are established for all other recyclables which cannot be processed locally. Gaps: No contingency plan exists for managing humanitarian waste; limited local recycling capacity creates dependence on exporting most recyclable materials; low segregation at source leads to high landfill disposal; the informal sector is unregulated.
REGIONAL LOGISTICS HUB AND CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE: Most waste generated is packaging (cardboard and plastic) approx. (one skip container per week during repositioning). Currently it is disposed of via skip collection to SBRC. With growing prepositioning by partners, waste volumes will increase, underscoring the need for a structured recycling arrangement.
CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS: Barbados has a functional but export-dependent recovery system with limited local processing. The main constraint is low segregation at source, resulting in high landfill diversion. For humanitarian operations, the absence of a non-hazardous waste contingency plan with clear guidance poses risks. Recommended actions for the humanitarian sector engagement include:
- Improving source segregation awareness at regional hub and humanitarian facilities and operations.
- Enhancing data consolidation of local recyclers capacity and estimated humanitarian waste generation.
- Small scale recycling technologies which create local value and limit reliance on export markets.
- A dedicated humanitarian waste contingency plan to limit environmental impacts during emergencies.
- Green procurement at the Regional Logistics Hub can significantly reduce packaging waste.
