Panama is a narrow isthmus in Central America that connects North and South America. It shares land borders with Costa Rica to the west and Colombia to the southeast, and features extensive coastlines along both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, totaling approximately 2,490 kilometers.
The country spans a land area of around 75,420 square kilometers. Its climate is tropical, with a distinct rainy and dry season, and consistently warm temperatures throughout the year (World Bank, 2021). Despite its relatively small size, Panama is internationally recognized for its ecological richness and environmental significance.
Positioned within the Mesoamerican Biodiversity Hotspot, it supports a high concentration of endemic and migratory species, particularly within its coastal and marine ecosystems (UNEP-WCMC, 2020). The country’s location—bridging two oceans and intersected by numerous river systems—enhances its aquatic biodiversity and provides essential habitats that sustain key economic activities such as fisheries and tourism (FAO, 2022).
Panama City and Colon face significant challenges in managing plastic waste, mainly in ensuring that existing regulatory frameworks are effectively enforced and embraced by the sectors and individuals responsible. Additionally, there are challenges related to collection methods, with infrastructure and disposal sites that do not meet required conditions, as well as plastic recovery strategies that lack continuity and effectiveness. Plastic pollution impacts both marine ecosystems and urban health, exacerbating environmental and social problems in both cities.
To address these challenges, the project strengthens municipal capacities through the development of local policies and participatory roadmaps, encourages business innovation in circular solutions, and promotes intermunicipal cooperation for joint management of plastic pollution. It also drives educational campaigns and community engagement to change consumption habits and raise environmental awareness among local residents. Key highlights include:
- Marine waste in Panamá is produced by human activity on coastal areas densely populated by residents and tourists (land sources); from industrial and recreational marine activities such as navigation, maritime transport, fishing, and aquaculture; and by marine currents. Panamá's discharge of marine waste (generated by land sources) is 102,229 tons/year, of which 61,553 tons is generated by human activities in urban areas and 40,675 in rural areas.70 The hydrographic basin of the Panamá Canal which provides drinking water in some provinces, is affected by the generation of waste solids due to the contamination produced by landfills.
- It is estimated that 74% of municipal waste ends up in landfills. Additionally, approximately 26% of the waste generated in the country is neither disposed of in sanitary landfills nor recycled. A large portion is disposed of without any treatment or are burned in the open, possibly generating uPOPs.
Jenny Echavarría
Project Coordinator
ANCON
Email Iris Barrios
Malú Ramos
Communication Liaison
ANCON
Email Malu Ramos
Events
CEP was established in 1981 as part of the Regional Seas Programme in recognition of the importance and value of the Wider Caribbean Region’s fragile and vulnerable coastal and marine ecosystems including endemic plants and animals.