Recycling in developing countries can often be a dangerous and difficult task, with workers at serious risk of injury or contracting illnesses. While things are slowly improving, there is still a significant risk attached to the industry. Recycling workers in Belize, however, got a boost when workers at the Mile 3 George Price Highway transfer station successfully completed an occupational health safety training programme.

Philip Waight, one of the facilitators at the recycling facility, said it was better to be safe than sorry. Businesses should not have to wait until legislation has been passed to ensure their workers’ environment is secure and business practices have been designed with safety in mind. Workers should be equipped with everything they need to do the job safely, in the case of recycling workers, masks, gloves, and other equipment.